By GINNY COOPER

VINCENT—Hundreds of kids waited silently for Principal Beverly Miller to arrive for a special, surprise program at Vincent Elementary School on May 20.

Miller, who is retiring this year after almost 30 years as an educator, spent the past 12 years of her career at Vincent Elementary School where she served as both assistant principal and principal.

“We love Beverly,” said Peg Hill, Shelby County board member and a speaker at the event. “She’s one of my favorite people I’ve met over the years, in part because of her hard work.”

Miller was crowned “Queen for a Day” complete with a tiara, scepter and robe, and sat at the front of the gymnasium with her husband, Aubrey Miller, president of the Shelby County Board of Education.

“Every May 20th from here on will be a day to remember Ms. Miller,” a teacher decreed.

Each teacher wore a red hat and carried a cut out of Miller’s face on a popsicle stick, which they held up as Miller entered the room.

“She said when she retires she’ll join the Red Hat Society, so we all found a red hat,” explained Nancy Bullock, a math coach at Vincent Elementary.

The program featured a song, skit or poem from each grade. Miller danced and sang along with the pre-kindergarten students to “Tooty Ta” and teachers sang a song to the tune of “I Just Called to Say I Love You.”

Norma Rogers, a former principal at Valley Elementary, spoke about hiring Miller as a teacher.

“I found the prettiest teacher,” Rogers said. “She’s really a team player.”