DEPEW, NY (WKBW) — For 39 years Carol Townsend has been an educator, spending the last nineteen years as Principal of Depew High School. Tuesday, however, marked her final day as she officially retired.
It's why several cars lined the Depew High School parking lot, filled with current and past teachers - all of them working with Carol at some point in their careers.
"It's very important for her to know how much everybody appreciated everything she did and how much she'll be missed," retired teacher Diane Sullivan said.
"She was very disappointed that she wasn't able to say goodbye to us personally," biology teacher Kevin Grzybek said. "I think this will mean a lot to her."
Carol spent the early morning watching a goodbye video inside the high school building. She was then told to go outside and was greeted by honking and signs -- commemorating and celebrating her long career.
"These people really came through," Townsend said about the show of support.
She was able to see her colleagues for the first time in months and went car to car to thank each of them for coming. They thanked her in return for all she's done, showing just how much she meant to everyone.
"You hope you're making an impact and a difference and sometimes you don't really know and you doubt yourself," Townsend said. "But this really validates a lot to me."
