Mill Creek honors Joffe as outstanding staff member
MADISON – As a “military brat,” Deidre Joffe had many teachers who made positive impacts. Joffe is Mill Creek Elementary School’s Staff Member of the Year.
“Errol Logue, my high school teacher and track coach, … supported me in the classroom and through state championships. He had just the right balance of encouraging me and helping me reach my potential … a kind man of great character,” Joffe said.
After 30 years, Joffe still keeps in contact with Logue; he met her son a few years ago. Joffe also acknowledged choir director Ron Sayer who alleviated her shyness and supplied confidence to sing and play piano in front of audiences.
After earning a special education degree at the University of Florida, Joffe taught in Florida in the 1990s. She w worked 10 years for Madison City Schools, first one-on-one assistant for special education at Columbia Elementary School and PE assistant at Mill Creek Elementary, earning the staff member award.
She transferred to library assistant in 2015. “I’m humbled, honored and grateful to receive Staff Member of the Year for a second time,” Joffe said.
“My son Joshua and I have lived in Madison for 16 years. I moved to Madison after my husband died; our son was eight months old,” Joffe said. Her parents had retired to Madison after his 32 years in the Army and suggested she and Joshua relocate.
Joffe’s work as library assistant is fulfilling and rewarding. She praised Principal Carmen Buchanan and Assistant Principal Karl Fernandez for support and Media Specialist Kris Gray for cooperation.
The library can be quiet, “followed by times it resembles Walmart the day after Thanksgiving!,” she said.
“My husband and I married in 1992. Joshua is a 16-year-old junior at Bob Jones High School,” she said. His friends call him ‘Joffe’ – ironically, her husband’s nickname by co-workers. “That makes me smile.”
Deidre devotes most spare time as “uniform band mom. Bob Jones Marching Band has been a wonderful experience for my son. Games, competitions, parades and concerts make for a busy school year. Leigh Thomas and Kevin Smart teach a phenomenal band program.”
Embracing tradition, Deidre and Joshua support the Florida Gators. “My husband and I worked for the University of Florida while in college. He was technical supervisor. I was security chief for campus events,” she said.
“Both Joshua and myself are grateful for the new beginning that Madison offered. I love working for Madison City Schools,” Deidre said.
