When Phyllis Benjamin first went to work at Duval Elementary School, John F. Kennedy was in the White House, Johnny Carson had just begun hosting the Tonight Show and the price of a first class stamp was 4 cents.

That was in 1962, and today Benjamin is still at Duval. She’s worked under eight different principals and is now helping the great-grandchildren of students she worked with during her early years at the school. Forty-four years is a long time to spend working, let alone working at the same place. Why has she stayed at Duval so long?

“Duval is my family,” said Benjamin. “I feel like all of the children who been here throughout the years have been my children, and I love them from the bottom of my heart.”

Benjamin’s commitment to Duval Elementary recently earned her recognition as Alachua County’s School-Related Employee of the Year. A committee representing employees, parents and community volunteers selected Benjamin from among 50 nominees from schools and worksites throughout the district. Superintendent Dan Boyd says the recognition is well deserved.

“Phyllis is such a passionate supporter of her school,” said Boyd. “She’s always calling the district office to tell us about the good things happening at Duval, and her enthusiasm is so heartwarming.”

Benjamin wears many hats at Duval. Technically her job titles are home-school liaison and senior clerical assistant. But she’s also responsible for arranging for substitute teachers, a task which can begin as early as 5:30 a.m. and run as late as 11 p.m. She serves as the school’s volunteer coordinator, clinic assistant and hospitality chairman, among other duties. Principal Leanetta McNealy says there’s nothing Benjamin won’t do for the school and its students.

“Each day she goes beyond the call of duty,” said McNealy. “She obviously loves her job, and she’s the epitome of an extraordinary employee.”

After more than four decades at the school, Benjamin knows the Duval Elementary community better than anyone. She can tell you the name of every child in the school. She knows their parents and their parents’ parents. It’s no wonder that she’s affectionately known as ‘Ms. Duval.’

“She has invaluable knowledge of four generations of families at our school,” said McNealy. “That knowledge enables her to do exemplary work when it comes to supporting our families.” 

And support families she certainly does. She makes frequent home visits to talk to parents about how they can help their children succeed in school. She coordinates after-school workshops to promote parent involvement. She provides clothing, furniture and food for Duval families in need, and helps connect them with other resources in the community.

Benjamin says it’s her goal to strengthen the bonds between families and the school so that students will be more successful in and out of the classroom.

“I feel that if I can bring the children and the parents and the teachers together, this will continue to be a great school,” she said. “Hopefully I can keep it up—maybe another 44 years!”

Benjamin will now go on to represent Alachua County in the 2007 Florida School Related Employee of the Year program. She and the other 49 school and worksite nominees from Alachua County will also be recognized at a special ceremony in May.