The Coxsackie-Athens Central School District is proud to celebrate the contributions of Coxsackie-Athens Middle School Building Secretary Karen Decker, as she officially enters retirement on Dec. 31, 2024.
Decker joined the District in 2008, working in the District Office and managing accounts payable. In 2014, she made the transition to the Middle School Building Secretary position, and since then, has developed a deep admiration for the efforts of the office staff, faculty and students every day.
“Once I was here and got to know people in the District, I said to myself, ‘I’d like to get to know the staff more and be involved with the children.’ I can't say I planned to be in education, but it turned out to be really good for me,” Decker said. “I love the atmosphere and the people here in the middle school. To get to know the kids, who are really just so fantastic, you want to do more and more for them. They are always reaching out to help people. Everything is a moving part, and I think the whole dynamic of working with and learning from the office staff, the teachers and the students has been a great experience.”
Coxsackie- Athens Middle School Principal Michael Elliot, who joined the District in November 2024, said his short time with Decker has been enjoyable and that she has helped him tremendously with adjusting to his role.
“Karen has been my right-hand since I started a little over a month ago. She has a wealth of institutional knowledge and skill that is irreplaceable,” Elliot said. “She truly serves all who come to the office and does so graciously, regardless of the circumstances that are happening at the moment. She will be deeply missed!”
Co-workers described Decker as “genuinely kind”, “incredibly calm” and “efficient” on a daily basis, making her an asset to the District and school community.
“I had the pleasure to work side-by-side with Karen Decker for over 10 years in the Coxsackie-Athens Middle School office,” said former Middle School Principal David Proper. “I knew when I got to the office in the morning and saw Karen, that our students and staff were in good hands. Our building could not have run without her calm, professional, humble, and friendly personality. We worked through some difficult times in the world of public education from school safety concerns to a pandemic. Throughout it all, Karen was a consistent rock for not only me, but the entire building. Thank you, Karen, and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.”
When asked what advice she would give to individuals considering joining the field of education, Decker said supporting others and creating time for yourself to complete objectives were two key priorities she was happy to accomplish in her time with the District.
“I would say to make availability for yourself, as the field of education is not as easy as it looks from the outside, and to also find ways to show appreciation for your colleagues,” Decker said. “The workload and capacity of responsibilities for each individual varies, and I admire them all for what they do.”
With retirement on the horizon, Decker looks forward to spending quality time with her family, including her grandchildren, travelling the country and participating in some of her favorite hobbies, such as boating and snowmobiling.
