Steve Stringer’s remarkable milestone: 40 years of dedicated service
Steve Stringer is employed as a Cluster Manager (multi-site manager) within the Smart Multi-Academy Trust Estates Department. His daily responsibilities currently involve the site management at two of the Trust’s primary schools – North Fawdon Primary and Kenton Bar Primary, where he is responsible for the school facility, compliance, grounds management and ensuring the environment is safe, secure (and warm) for both pupils and staff.
Steve reaches 40 years’ service today, with the vast majority of his service spent working (and living) at North Fawdon Primary. It is a significant anniversary and a staggering milestone of continuous service from a dedicated, caring and utterly committed member of the Trust.
Huge congratulations from the whole team at Schools North East, Steve!
An extraordinary timeline of dedication
Steve’s service began aged 19 in 1985 when he became a relief caretaker for Newcastle City Council, working across the city, but mainly at Wickham View School (now the John Marley Centre) at Denton Dene. In Dec 1986, he was offered the permanent position of Caretaker at North Fawdon Primary School and then moved into the caretaker’s bungalow a month later in Jan1987, along with his wife Pam.
He has remained working at North Fawdon Primary School and living and raising a family in the caretaker’s bungalow onsite for an amazing 38 years. He is a cornerstone of both the School and the local community, having seen multiple generations from neighbouring families through a successful education at North Fawdon.
Throughout his time at North Fawdon, he has worked alongside more than 11 Head Teachers, countless Deputy Head Teachers and multiple School Business Managers, not to mention the more than a thousand pupils he has helped go through the School – some of whom are now his colleagues within the Trust. Remarkable.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “Reaching the incredible milestone of 40 years is a testament to your incredible dedication and passion, Steve. Your unwavering commitment has not only enriched the lives of countless students but has also made a significant and lasting impact on the wider North East community.
“We are immensely fortunate to have you, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this extraordinary achievement.”
Monumental knowledge, experience and willingness to help others
Steve has been involved in all the significant change events at the school over the years. He was no stranger to shovelling coal (yes, coal!) in the school’s heating boilers during his first few years before they were upgraded to gas in 1990 – indeed, he has also outlived those ’modern’ gas boilers, which are due for replacement in the near future.
He has managed and shaped the grounds of the school over the years and has been key to the many projects that have improved the look and efficiency of the school.
Steve’s commitment to North Fawdon has been unwavering throughout his tenure; he worked throughout Covid-19 to ensure that the site was open, safe and available for pupils and staff; he runs weekly pupil circles to help with our children’s wellbeing and is a keystone of the Trust’s Estates Department, where his monumental knowledge, experience and willingness to help others continues to shine through.
He is always willing to assist others and is selfless in the giving of his time – particularly if it involves his favourite pastime of buffing and polishing a hall floor. Despite his commitment to both the School and the wider Trust, Steve also finds spare time (we aren’t sure how) to volunteer at weekends as a Race Marshall at Croft Circuit, and is also famous for delivering curries on a weekend across Kenton & Gosforth.
The Smart Multi-Academy Trust is quite rightly proud to have Steve as a key member of staff, his 40 years of service have seen vast change, but his work ethic, commitment and good humour have endured throughout.
“Thank you, Steve, you are amazing, and we all appreciate and celebrate your service, please don’t retire anytime soon!”
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