Pam Mason doesn’t like to talk much about herself.
But because the humble Mason doesn’t talk much about her work as a special education instructional aide doesn’t mean her work goes unnoticed.
“She is amazing,” Tallassee High School principal Drew Glass said. “The students just love her.”
Recently Mason was selected by her co-workers as the school’s support staff of the year. It’s an award she was surprised to get but said she just does her job at school.
“I just do what I'm supposed to do,” Mason said. “I'm an easy going person.”
Mason is a Reeltown High School graduate. She is one of four Reeltown graduates working at THS including football coach L.A. O’Neal.
“I went to school with his father,” Mason said. “We are getting old.”
Mason admitted to being 68 currently and possibly retiring when her 10th grade granddaughter graduates from THS.
“I’ll be 70 then,” Mason said.
THS assistant principal Brooke Barron said Mason has been taking care of people for as long as she can remember.
“She has been doing it forever,” Barron said. “I think since she was 1. She is always taking care of students or people in the community.”
Mason first worked under special education teacher Linda Scrabrough.
“It just stuck with me,” Mason said. “I just fell in love with it. I think I learned it while I took care of a cousin who was special needs whenever she was younger. I always loved being around her.”
She is currently serving her second stint as a special education aide.
“I have been at it for four years now,” Mason said. “I saw a job come open, and I thought I’d put in for it. Then I didn’t, then I did. It just sort of fell in my lap.”
One thing hasn’t changed over the years — the reason Mason works with special education students.
“I just love being around the kids and seeing them excel,” Mason said. “I love the relationship that I have formed with all the kids that I work with, and even the kids that I don't work with on a daily basis. I just love being around kids. They keep me young.”
