NewsAdmission
Womack retires after 24 years at Darlington
Sep 12, 2008 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
When Dot Womack first began volunteering her time at the Lower School as a Darlington parent more than 25 years ago, she did everything from working in the library and publishing reading guides, to general office work, to driving students to the doctor, while still finding the time to run errands for faculty and staff members in between.
It did not take administrators long to realize how important Womack had become to the day-to-day operations of the Lower School, so they offered her a part-time position in the Admission Office in 1984. This soon became a full-time position.
“In 21 years of working with Dot, I have never once heard her say, ‘No, I won’t be able to do that’ or ‘No, I don’t have time to do that’ or ‘No, I don’t know how to do that,’” said Lea Duncan, assistant director of admission for Lower School. “Her determination, dedication and pride in her job is unmatched. She has spent countless hours pouring over instruction manuals and books until she learns how to do whatever is asked of her, and has always been willing to change with the times.”
Mark Tayloe, former Lower School principal, said it did not take him long to realize he could not ‘outwork’ Womack. “I would leave the office at the end of the day and come back an hour or two later to find Dot still at work,” he recalled. “I used to try to run her out of the building, especially late on a Friday afternoon, when I would see her car – and her car only – parked in front of the Lower School. Dot was as dedicated an employee as I have ever worked with. She was a wonderful example to me and to others about what commitment really is.”
Although Womack’s primary responsibility has remained admissions, she has always been someone that colleagues relied on for so much more.
“I believe Dot lives her life selflessly, always with the needs of others placed before her own,” Tayloe said. “She has always gone out of her way to help anyone, whether it was a student, teacher, parent or admissions prospect. She is extremely conscientious about her work and takes pride in getting it right the first time. Her statistics were always the most accurate, and we could never rely on the accuracy of an admissions report unless we knew it came from Dot. It was both a privilege and a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to work with her.”
Womack, who moved over to the Upper School campus in 2006 to become database manager for the Admission Office, said that although she looks forward to her retirement this month and spending more time with her family, she is really going to miss Darlington, its students and her colleagues.
“I have been very blessed,” Womack said. “There are children at the Upper School right now who I have known since they started pre-kindergarten. It’s just amazing to see how they have grown up and still remember me. You don’t think teenagers think very much about the Lower School once they’ve left, but they do. And I have enjoyed working with so many different people over the years. Everyone has been so supportive.”
Colleagues, like Duncan, agreed that it will be difficult to replace someone like Womack, who has been so much more than a co-worker during the past 24 years.
“Dot is my quiet hero,” Duncan said. “She never asks or expects praise or recognition for anything and always goes the extra mile. As invaluable as she has been professionally to scores of people who have passed through the gates of Darlington over the years, she has been, is, and will continue to be even more special as a friend … Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘hero’ as ‘a person of distinguished courage and/or ability and is admired for deeds and noble qualities.’ I define it as Dot Womack.”
It did not take administrators long to realize how important Womack had become to the day-to-day operations of the Lower School, so they offered her a part-time position in the Admission Office in 1984. This soon became a full-time position.
“In 21 years of working with Dot, I have never once heard her say, ‘No, I won’t be able to do that’ or ‘No, I don’t have time to do that’ or ‘No, I don’t know how to do that,’” said Lea Duncan, assistant director of admission for Lower School. “Her determination, dedication and pride in her job is unmatched. She has spent countless hours pouring over instruction manuals and books until she learns how to do whatever is asked of her, and has always been willing to change with the times.”
Mark Tayloe, former Lower School principal, said it did not take him long to realize he could not ‘outwork’ Womack. “I would leave the office at the end of the day and come back an hour or two later to find Dot still at work,” he recalled. “I used to try to run her out of the building, especially late on a Friday afternoon, when I would see her car – and her car only – parked in front of the Lower School. Dot was as dedicated an employee as I have ever worked with. She was a wonderful example to me and to others about what commitment really is.”
Although Womack’s primary responsibility has remained admissions, she has always been someone that colleagues relied on for so much more.
“I believe Dot lives her life selflessly, always with the needs of others placed before her own,” Tayloe said. “She has always gone out of her way to help anyone, whether it was a student, teacher, parent or admissions prospect. She is extremely conscientious about her work and takes pride in getting it right the first time. Her statistics were always the most accurate, and we could never rely on the accuracy of an admissions report unless we knew it came from Dot. It was both a privilege and a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to work with her.”
Womack, who moved over to the Upper School campus in 2006 to become database manager for the Admission Office, said that although she looks forward to her retirement this month and spending more time with her family, she is really going to miss Darlington, its students and her colleagues.
“I have been very blessed,” Womack said. “There are children at the Upper School right now who I have known since they started pre-kindergarten. It’s just amazing to see how they have grown up and still remember me. You don’t think teenagers think very much about the Lower School once they’ve left, but they do. And I have enjoyed working with so many different people over the years. Everyone has been so supportive.”
Colleagues, like Duncan, agreed that it will be difficult to replace someone like Womack, who has been so much more than a co-worker during the past 24 years.
“Dot is my quiet hero,” Duncan said. “She never asks or expects praise or recognition for anything and always goes the extra mile. As invaluable as she has been professionally to scores of people who have passed through the gates of Darlington over the years, she has been, is, and will continue to be even more special as a friend … Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘hero’ as ‘a person of distinguished courage and/or ability and is admired for deeds and noble qualities.’ I define it as Dot Womack.”
