RTCA Teacher Retires

After 34 years of teaching, Rushing Stephens has decided to retire from Robert Toombs Christian Academy. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and later received her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education.

Throughout her years of teaching, she has taught at Swainsboro Primary School, J.D. Dickerson, Reidsville Elementary, Toombs Central, and Lyons Upper Elementary. Stephens has taught Kindergarten through 5th grade but says Kindergarten is probably her favorite to teach.

Stephens is married to Dirk Stephens of Vidalia. They have three children, Randi and husband Jake Colvin, Ryan Brooks, and Kelsey and Zach Stephens. 'My husband and I are going to do some traveling so that we can cross some things off on our bucket list,' Stephens says. When asked about plans for after retirement, 'I also plan to spend more time with my family, get involved with my community, and go on mission trips.' Stephens says that there will also be a new addition, a grandson, to the family, arriving in October, and she cannot wait to spoil him, as well as her 3-year-old grandson who lives in New Jersey. 'Robert Toombs is a great place to teach. The faculty and staff, families, and students are the best, and I will miss seeing them each day,' Stephens states.

'It is very humbling to get the opportunity to work with professionals like Mrs. Stephens. She is the epitome of what it means to be an educator, and this world needs many more like her. After 34 years, there really is no way to quantify the impact that she has made on this community and all of the individuals she has taught. We certainly appreciate the impact that she has made on our school, both as a graduate of RTCA and a teacher. Although I am sorry to see her go, I am very happy for her and her husband to get the opportunity to travel and visit family. Her retirement is well-deserved, and she will be missed,' says Travis Absher, Head of School at RTCA.

Rushing StephensPhoto by Millie Perry