After 37 years at Derby High School, principal secretary Gail Svymbersky is retiring on Friday.

Her job as principal Tim Hamblin’s secretary includes numerous responsibilities throughout the year.

“One of the big ones is doing the principal’s statement that’s due around the start of October,” Svymbersky said. “I keep track of all the keys. I approve time sheets for the classified people. The phone calls for Mr. Hamblin go through me. I keep his calendar.

“If the receptionist is gone, I work with the substitute teachers. I arrange observations for college students when they need to come for a college class… there’s a lot of things I do. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

She began her job as the principal’s secretary on March 1, 1982. Now, in 2019, she’s eager to retire and have some spare time.

In her newfound free time, she plans to spend it “maybe sleeping in a little bit” and spending time with her 6-year-old grandson in Branson. She’ll go to more basketball games, too.”

When she retires, registrar Kelly Watkins will be taking over her position.

“Right now my job is only 10½ months out of the year and this one was 12 months out of the year. So I would be working full time, so when he (Hamblin) asked me to take it, I said yes,” Watkins said.