After four decades of dedicated service to Effingham County Schools, CeCe Nixon will turn off her office light and shut the door for one last time in July.

When she retires at the end of this school year, she will leave behind a legacy built on compassion, professionalism and steady, behind-the-scenes leadership.

From her early days as a classroom paraprofessional to her current role in the district’s testing department, Nixon has been a consistent source of support for students, educators and administrators alike.

“I just enjoy what I do and love the people,” she said. “I love seeing when the kids graduate. It feels good to know I had a part of that.”

The classroom years

Nixon began her career in the 1980s as a paraprofessional at Springfield Elementary, working primarily with kindergarten and first-grade students.

“They were the little ones,” she recalled. “The ones who cried when they left their mommas. I had to tell them, ‘Your mommy knows where you are. Calm down.’”

For Lisa Woods, who taught kindergarten with Nixon by her side, CeCe was more than an aide — she was a partner.

“She gave 110 percent every day,” Woods said. “I called her the second teacher in the room. She was so supportive of everything I did in the classroom.”

Woods said Nixon never brought personal troubles into the school.

“Even if something was going on at home, CeCe never let it show,” she said. “She was always positive, organized and joyful. She supported me, supported the kids and was just wonderful to be around.”

It was a double-edged sword when CeCe applied for a position with the district office. Woods encouraged her to go for it because it was a great opportunity for advancement and better pay — but she hated to see her go.

“Even after she left, I called her all the time,” she said. “When I became an assistant principal and then principal, I always knew I could count on CeCe.”

A steady hand in the district office

Nixon transitioned from the classroom to the central office, first as a receptionist and later joining the testing department, where she became a trusted backbone of assessment logistics in the district.

The testing office is responsible for ensuring students’ academic progress is accurately measured and that educators receive valuable insights into teaching effectiveness.

“The teachers meet and they create assessments for the students … then we create the test,” she said. “We do the answer key and have everything set for the teachers.”

Tammy Jacobs, the district’s director of assessment, knows just how critical Nixon has been to the department’s success.

“She’s a legacy,” Jacobs said. “She knows this work inside and out. We joke that she’s the ‘mama of the team’ because she keeps us all in line. She has her calendar, reminds us of deadlines and always thinks about how everything affects the students.”

Jacobs first met Nixon in 2007 while serving as testing coordinator at South Effingham High School.

“I was brand new in that role, and CeCe was the first person I’d reach out to with questions,” she said. “She was always calm, kind and helpful — and she still is.”

Now, as colleagues in the district office, Jacobs said Nixon’s deep understanding of assessment and unwavering, student-centered mindset make her irreplaceable.

“She’s extremely meticulous and holds herself to a very high standard. She’s also the first to speak up if she thinks something could negatively affect students.”

Even beyond her assigned duties, Nixon is known for her willingness to step in wherever needed.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s her job or not,” Jacobs said. “If something needs to be done, she’s going to roll up her sleeves and help.”

A witness to change

Over her career, Nixon has watched Effingham County’s school system evolve in ways that would have seemed unimaginable when she first started.

“Growth and the use of technology,” she said, are among the biggest changes she’s seen. There are now twice as many elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and a career academy.

Classrooms that once relied solely on paper and pencil are now saturated with digital tools.

“Everything is based on technology,” Nixon said. “The students have Chromebooks they work on. Technology is everything.”

She has worked under three school superintendents, had five supervisors and watched the district grow and make changes for the betterment of students and employees, she said.

The changes go beyond leadership.

“We did not have the printers and copiers like we have now,” she said. “We had a ditto machine to make copies of assignments for each student. We had school buses with no A/C and the large TVs you would roll from the library to your classroom to watch movies pertaining to a lesson. The school only had two, so you had to sign up for the TV. Now we have movie screens.”

Even the school lunch experience has changed. When she started her career, lunches and breakfasts were cooked by the nutrition workers.

“Now they are mostly precooked or warmed,” she said. “I recall my favorite lunch would be steamed tomatoes over rice with salmon croquettes or sausage.”

Her role in the testing department has given her a front-row seat to one of the most dramatic shifts — statewide assessments.

“I have witnessed the state testing having test booklets for every student who needed to be assessed in the county,” she said. “Now, each student has a test ticket to log into a computer to be assessed — unless special accommodations are noted. I can recall test booklets being counted and inventoried after receipt via the testing department and recounting to inventory test booklets being sent out for scoring.”

What hasn’t changed is her deep care for students and belief in their potential.

“If they don’t get their diploma, it’s because they don’t want it,” she said. “The opportunity is definitely there.”

A legacy of faith, excellence and heart

CeCe Nixon’s story isn’t loud or flashy — it’s built on faith, loyalty and quiet excellence.

“She’s beautiful inside and out,” Woods said. “Her hair’s always done, makeup perfect, everything pressed and matching. She’s a great example of professionalism and self-respect.”

“CeCe is the hardest-working person I know,” she added. “She doesn’t just do a job — she owns it. And she always brings it back to the students. Always.”

Though Nixon is hesitant to talk about herself, those around her are quick to say what she won’t.

“She never missed school,” Woods said. “She worked so hard to help others be successful — teachers and students alike.”

Big shoes to fill

As the district prepares for Nixon’s retirement, there’s an undeniable sense of loss.

“I don’t really want to think about it,” said Jacobs. “She just knows everything. She remembers every detail. She’s going to leave some very big shoes to fill.”

Nixon said the reality of her impending retirement hasn’t completely sunk in yet, and she hasn’t planned exactly what’s next.

“I’ll think more about it in January,” she said. “But I’ll be doing something with people. I love people.”

What she may not fully grasp is just how many people love her back — and how many lives she’s quietly shaped.

“She’s definitely a legacy,” Jacobs said. “And she absolutely deserves this next chapter.”