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If you've called Fauquier County Public
Schools' (FCPS) central office at any
point in the last four decades, you've
likely been greeted by a voice that is the
definition of "calm in the storm." After 45
years of service--40 of them as the
division's primary gatekeeper and
receptionist--Marian Edwards has
agreed to pass the baton as she enters
retirement.
Marian's journey with FCPS began not
with a paycheck, but with a volunteer
badge. She started out helping at Central
Elementary when her two children were
young. Eventually, she was spending so
much time at the school that a job just
made sense. "I may as well get paid," she
joked, noting that a school schedule
allowed her to have the same days off as
her kids.
Her official career kicked off in late 1980
at Taylor Middle School. Her first
assignment? Monitoring in-school
detention students, which was in the
school's basement! From there, she
moved to the guidance department as a
secretary. While she loved the work, her
children--now 55 and 54--weren't
always thrilled to have their mother
onsite. They famously complained that
she knew "too much" about their school
days, though they did admit it was nice to
have an inside source for things like
morning announcements--so they didn't
need to pay close attention.
In 1985, Marian moved to the central
office to become the receptionist. Since
then, she has become nothing short of a
walking encyclopedia of the division.
Whether it's a parent asking about
redistricting or a confused caller looking
for a specific department, Marian usually
has the answer.
She's also a master of vibe-checking.
Over the years, Marian has perfected the
art of de-escalating disgruntled visitors
thanks to her smooth, steady voice. She
recalls a time a woman came in extremely
upset, only for Marian to invite her to sit
in a chair next to her desk and chat like
old friends. By the time the woman left,
the bad mood had vanished.
"Sometimes you can sway a person and
lower the tension just by the way you talk
to them," she says. And it isn't just the
parents and staff Marian has befriended;
she's legendary for her rapport with
delivery drivers. Over the years, she has
learned their names, hobbies, and
sometimes even their golf scores!
Watching the passage of time from the
front desk has provided a unique
perspective. Marian often sees current
administrators and supervisors, realizing
she watched them play basketball when
they were in middle school and high
school. It's a career that has kept her
busy and grounded, especially after the
passing of her husband.
Despite joking that she'd "die at her
desk"--she even received a snow globe
featuring a skeleton at a typewriter as a
gift that she keeps at the office--Marian
notes that June 30 will be her final day.
A self-proclaimed paper person who is
still navigating the mind-boggling choices
of retirement paperwork, Marian's post-
career plans are simple. While she's
fortunate to have a son and family living
just 15 minutes from her home, she looks
forward to visiting her daughter and
family in Georgia for more than a
weekend at a time and returning to her
hobby of crocheting. But for the first time
in 45 years, she's ready to live without an
agenda--at least for a while. Thank you,
Marian, for your decades of dedicated
service. The central office halls won't be
the same without you.
From Detention to the Front Desk:
Marian Edwards Hangs Up
the Phone After 45 Years
Marian Edwards in 1985 & this year
By Nancy Griffin-Bonnaire