Four – yes, four! – area superintendents shared the stage at the Don Coleman Coliseum on Nov. 14 to honor the upcoming retirement of Associate Superintendent Margie Duffey during a late-afternoon celebration of her 44 years in Texas education as a classroom teacher, principal and top-level administrator in Spring Branch and Spring ISDs.
Superintendent Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., and three former Spring ISD Superintendents – Drs. Gordon Anderson, Michael Hinojosa, and John Folks – all spoke from the heart about how Margie had served as “the mother of us all” for four decades.
She retires officially next month. Her celebration of years was held at the coliseum to accommodate well wishers and highlight her service to the Athletics Department and SBISD’s 40-plus campuses. Among other gifts, the schools and departments across SBISD presented the retiring leader with a signed, homemade quilt that includes the symbol of each campus and department.
Dr. Klussmann was joined at the special event by retired Spring ISD Superintendents Gordon Anderson and John Folks, and by former Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, who today leads Alabama’s Cobb County Schools. Gordon Anderson was Spring ISD Superintendent from 1980 to 1997 and guided the district to state and national recognitions.
Dr. John Folks was Northside ISD Superintendent for 10 years, in addition to Spring ISD leader, and his honors included the Texas Superintendent of the Year recognition from the Texas Association of School Boards. He now lectures at UT-San Antonio.
After serving in Spring ISD, Dr. Michael Hinojosa led the Dallas Independent School District. He was named Superintendent of the Year by both the Texas Association of School Boards and by the University of Texas at Austin. He is a past president of the Texas Association of School Administrators.
Margie Duffey joined SBISD’s Senior Staff team eight years ago as an Associate Superintendent for Administration and Personnel. Earlier, she served numerous years in Spring ISD as Associate Superintendent for Administration, Interim Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and other management roles.
Known as Margie Cain during her extensive Spring ISD career, Associate Superintendent Duffey was the first principal at L.E. Smith Elementary School on Cypresswood Drive. Several themes echoed through video presentations and speeches at Don Coleman: her calm personality, her attention to policy and detail, and her support for district principals or other administrators. “Margie, we will always honor you,” one tribute stated.
“I’m pretty overwhelmed at this point,” Margie said at the event after hearing from those who served with her. “I thought maybe that this would be punch and cookies on the concourse. Not too many people get second chances. I did in 2005 when I married Jack Duffey and then joined SBISD. . . I came here and it was like being home. I’m speechless and grateful.”
“Margie, you are the most incredible and hard working person that I have ever known,” stated Superintendent Klussmann as the celebration ended.
Musical selections were presented by the combined Landrum Middle School and KIPP Courage Choirs and by the Memorial Middle School Band.
Career Highlights:
Associate Superintendent Margie Duffey
4th grade teacher, St. Jerome's Catholic School in Spring Branch (1 year)
6th grade teacher, Lamar Consolidated ISD (3 years)
Reading Specialist, Alief Middle School, Alief ISD (6 years)
Assistant Principal, Wunsche Middle School (1 year)
Principal, Winship Elementary (5 years)
Principal, Smith Elementary School (3 years)
Associate Superintendent, Interim Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, Spring ISD (16 years) Associate Superintendent, Spring Branch ISD (9 years)
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