After 33 years in education, most of them spent at Collegeville Elementary, DeDe Gillespie is closing a chapter that has come full circle in the best way.
DeDe’s roots in Bryant run deep. She attended Bryant schools from first grade through graduation, where she was also a member of the Bryant Varsity Dance team. She later returned to the district to teach in the same community that helped shape her. “As I close this chapter, I feel privileged to have spent the majority of my teaching career at my alma mater,” she said. Her husband, Jay, is also a proud Bryant graduate, as are their children, Morganne and Cole.
During her career, DeDe taught 4th grade, 1st grade, Kindergarten, and spent many years teaching 2nd and 3rd grade. While education changed over the years, her passion for helping students learn never did. Some of her favorite moments came when students finally understood a skill they had been struggling with and gained confidence in themselves.
DeDe is most thankful for the relationships built throughout her career. From students and parents to coworkers who became lifelong friends, those connections are what she treasures most.
As she steps into retirement, DeDe is grateful for the career and community that have meant so much to her over the years. “I am thankful that God chose this as my career and that I followed the path that was laid out in front of me,” she said. While she will miss the camaraderie and family atmosphere of Collegeville Elementary, she is looking forward to teaching dance at Arkansas Dance Center and spending more time with her family, especially her grandson Nolan and her surrogate granddaughter Landry.
After more than three decades in Bryant classrooms, DeDe leaves behind a legacy of dedication, relationships, and countless students whose lives were shaped by her care and encouragement.