Priscilla Britton considers herself a lifetime member of the Cawood Elementary School family, even though she ended her teaching career recently. Both she and her husband, Donnie, said goodbye during a retirement ceremony at the school.

“I will miss Cawood Elementary very much. I already do,” said Priscilla Britton. “I began school in 1974 as a Cawood Hornet, and I ended my teaching career as a Cawood Comet. Over time, at Cawood Elementary, we’ve become more than colleagues. We’ve become friends. We have laughed with each other in the best of times, and we have cried with each other in the worst of times. Somewhere in between, a family was formed.”

The Brittons retiring definitely feels like the “end of an era” at Cawood Elementary,” said Cawood Elementary School Principal Melinda Sergent. “They have both touched the lives of every student, colleague and parent they have met over the years in some great way.”

Teddy Stephens coached with Donnie Britton and worked with both during his long teaching career at Cawood.

“This place will never be the same without Donnie, but the jokes, the basketball stories and our hunting trip memories will always be with me,” he said. “Priscilla is one of the most caring individuals to ever work at our school as my daughter, Hannah, will attest. She tells me I’m a great teacher, but Mrs. Britton is still her favorite. I have much love and respect for both of them.”

“For us, teaching has been so much more than a job,” said Priscilla Britton. “It has molded and defined every aspect of our lives. Teaching has provided us with an extended family and lifelong friendships. Each has been a blessing; and for that we are thankful.”

Even though Cawood is no longer their work home, the Brittons remain Comets for life.

“The students, teachers and people at Cawood Elementary will always be my family,” said Donnie Britton. “We are looking forward to traveling to places like Mount Rushmore, Yosemite and Sequoyah.”

Donnie Britton started his teaching career in 1992 at Wallins Elementary School and stayed for seven years until moving Cawood, the school he attended in grade school. He was Harlan County Teacher of the Year in 2006 and was recognized by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in the 2006-2007 edition. He also coached elementary/middle school basketball at both schools, leading the Cawood seventh- and eighth-grade basketball team to championships in 2005 and 2006 and the fifth- and sixth-grade team to a county title in 2012.

“When watching Mr. Britton teach, you can tell that teaching is definitely a work of the heart,” Sergent said. “His classroom was full of discussions, stories, fun and laughter. I have no doubt that he is the most beloved teacher at Cawood Elementary.”

Priscilla Britton began teaching at Cawood in 1994 after two years at the Harlan State Vocational Technical School. She was named Harlan County Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1997 and 2000 and was the recipient of the Campbellsville Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017 and was a district and regional candidate for Kentucky Teacher of the Year in 2012 and 2017. She served for three years as an assistant principal and was on the site-based council from 1997 to 2002 and from 2016 to 2018.

“In thinking of Mrs. Britton’s spectacular career, I think she is the kind of teacher that was born to inspire others and change people’s lives,” Sergent said. “Her classroom was a place of high expectations, knowledge and hands-on ways to learn, while giving a loving environment to succeed. She has helped so many students to become a better version of themselves.”

“I’m proud of the growth and success Cawood Elementary is experiencing. It is filled with a group of caring and dedicated professionals who love teaching and who strive to help students experience success,” said Priscilla Britton. “I’m cheering for my family. Family is forever.”