Ermine Brockschmidt's Work Ethic
is Amazing
Why retire if you love what you do? That's Ermine Brockschmidt's philosophy. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School teacher's aide celebrated her 86th birthday last week on the job, which is exactly where she wants to be for many more years.
Mrs. Brockschmidt has been working at Finley since 1968. The school has had four principals over the past 45 and she has seen many changes, but while students and teachers might come and go, the woman at the front desk stays the same.
A window since 1976, Mrs. Brockschmidt is on the job from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.
She has served in a number of roles during her career at Finley and colleagues say she has always carried out her duties with professionalism.
"Everyone loves Ermine," Finley Principal John Amato said. "She is always helpful, smiling and has a great sense of humor. She hates to be off and hardly ever gets sick. This year, with the bad flu she did take a few days, so we knew that she was pretty bad."
Mrs. Brockschmidt is stationed at Finley's front desk, located in the school's foyer or "Blue Zone," just beyond a double set of doors. She greets visitors and asks them to sign into the building, processes students arriving late, helps the office staff with mailings to parents, assists students with locker issues and stands ready to lend a hand whenever Mr. Amato or a colleague needs it.
The longtime Finley aide has steadfastly ignored her family's suggestions that she retire. "Why retire when I love what I do," Mrs. Brockschmidt is fond of saying. She worked in A&S department store at the Walt Whitman Mall for 18 years until the store closed. She said if the store was still there, she'd be there, too.
At Finley, Mrs. Brockschmidt never says "no" when someone seeks out her help. Mr. Amato relies on her and knows he has a person near the front door that couldn't be more loyal to the school.
During her breaks, Mrs. Brockschmidt enjoys reading a book or taking a walk. She is still very spry and her mind is sharp, as is her wit and sense of humor. She stays on her toes and doesn't take any guff.
Mrs. Brockschmidt came to the school three years after it opened and is Finley's longest serving employee ever. Her record-setting run isn't over yet and Mr. Amato hopes it never ends.