GMS couple Paul and Julie DuCott retire together

Paul and Julie DuCott have both worked in professions in which they gave of themselves to others — Paul as a guidance counselor and Julie as a school nurse. It’s a happy coincidence that they worked together at the Galvin Middle School.

In addition to working with students, the DuCotts have opened their home to the faculty and staff after school on Friday afternoons for a number of years. When one of their daughters moved back home for a year, she was amazed at the number of people who dropped in, some of them her age, to socialize with her parents.

Those Friday afternoons will be different this fall, because both DuCotts retired this month. “It’s been awesome,” Paul said of their years together at the Galvin. “Our work world is centered around the same atmosphere.”

Julie is from Pennsylvania. She worked as a staff nurse in a hospital and also taught nursing. She arrived in Canton in the early 1980s and worked as a substitute school nurse until she became the nurse at the Galvin in 1985. Paul grew up in Stoughton and worked as a social worker and guidance counselor in another community before beginning his career at the Galvin in 1988. They will celebrate their 22^nd wedding anniversary in August.

The DuCotts describe their working relationship as one of teamwork. Sometimes Julie would see one of Paul’s students in her office. Between the two of them, they were able to help many students solve problems.

“I would look for a missing link,” Paul said. “She would always have a different view.”

They have both enjoyed working at the Galvin. “I love working with kids,” Paul said. “It’s where my heart has always been. Middle school kids are a real challenge. But they’re an open book if you find the right page.”

“I love this age group,” said Julie. “They’re only there for three years, but you see the biggest changes. They mature so much.”

The DuCotts saw some of those changes during the 17 years that they accompanied the eighth graders on their annual class trip. “They come home a completely different person,” Paul said.

They have also seen growth in students through the work that colleague Rummi Saha does in the Rainbow Café. Faculty and staff order meals that Saha’s students prepare in a room near Julie’s office.

The DuCotts have also seen changes in students since they started working at the Galvin. When Julie took on the role of school nurse, students’ medical needs were fairly simple.

“One child with an inhalator, one with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), no EpiPens, no diabetes, no big medical issues,” she said.

“The big change is the increase in technology,” Paul said. “The information highway has created both positive and negative aspects.”

The DuCotts have four grandchildren, two in New York and two in California. Their retirement plans include travel to both of those states, a Caribbean cruise, and some volunteer work. They will take some great memories with them.

“One of the greatest rewards for any teacher is when students come back and say hi,” said Paul. “We’ve had the pleasure of seeing that many times.”

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=14661

Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jun 27 2012. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.