High Springs Day Care Director Retires: Tammy Fleming Leaves After 41 years

HIGH SPRINGS – After 41 years at the High Springs Day Care Center, 61-year-old Director Tammy Fleming formally retired on June 30. “I have seen children and their children come up through this center,” she said. “It’s like having grandchildren after all this time.”

The Day Care Center has been in place for 48 years. Fleming is a widow and her husband was a retired police officer from New York. Fleming said her son went to school there and he will be 43 in July. He now has three boys of his own who are six, 18 and 21 years old.

She is planning a trip to visit them in Stone Mountain, Georgia when the threat of COVID-19 has passed. “My son and grandchildren have been asking me to come and cook some of their favorite dishes when I get there,” she said.

“My niece lives in Kentucky and she has kids of her own, too. I just plan to travel a little bit and visit family,” she said.

The Day Care Center has been serving about a dozen children from the age of two – 12 years old. “I will surely miss them,” she said. “I have loved these children [at the Day Care Center] as my own for 41 years and I just want to spend a little bit of time with my own kids now.”

Due to the pandemic, there will not be a retirement party to celebrate her departure. “I was honored in January and that is just fine with me,” Fleming said.

At the time of her retirement, Fleming said the Day Care Center doesn’t have a replacement for her. Although the City owns the building, there is a Board of Directors who oversees the school.

Board member Cassandra Davis said children who go on to school after they leave Fleming’s care are well prepared and that Fleming put in a lot of her own volunteer time at the day care center. “It has been really great working with Tammy. She has been extremely good with the children, very dependable and has served the community well.”

“We are sorry to lose her, but we will look for a replacement to help fill her shoes,” Davis said.

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