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FOLLANSBEE -- Friends and colleagues of Antoinette Perkins are remembering her as a special person who was dedicated to her profession and students in Brooke County schools.
“Antoinette was a valued and treasured teacher and educator. She led many student groups when she was a teacher,” Dr. Robert Marks, vice president of the Brooke County Board of Education, said Wednesday afternoon while remembering Perkins.
A teacher for 37 years, Perkins, who was chosen as president of the school board in July, died Monday at Trinity Medical Center West in Steubenville. She was 75.
“Antoinette was much more than an educator and school board president. She was a mentor, an advocate, a confidante and a friend to countless students, employees, families and community members,” said Jeffrey R. Crook, Brooke County superintendent. “Her passion for children and her unwavering commitment to Brooke County schools were evident in every conversation, every decision and every interaction. Her impact on our school system and our community will be felt for generations to come.”
Perkins was a 1969 graduate of Follansbee High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education from West Liberty University and her master’s degree in communications from West Virginia University.
“She was a lovely person,” said Michael Traubert, a member of the school board. “She gave her life to education and was involved heavily with the dance team.”
She began her 10th year as a member of the school board in July and was chosen as president at the July 6 meeting.
“I have been very blessed to be here and to have been able to teach so many great students in Brooke County schools during my career,” Perkins said after that meeting.
She was born on April 17, 1951, in Steubenville, a daughter of the late Paul Samuel and Amelia Immaculate (Saggio) Julio.
“She helped with special education and was involved with so much at the high school as a teacher,” Marks said.
Her involvement with the students and the school went beyond just teaching -- she could always be found at school functions.
“She was a longtime board member, and she was at every activity for the students after she retired as a teacher -- she went to everything. She’s going to be sorely missed,” Marks said.
That was an important part of who she was, she said after the July board meeting.
“I love going to activities and seeing these kids participate,” Perkins said. “You get to know them, and they know who you are and it makes them feel really good, like ‘Wow, she’s on the board and she comes to watch me play.'”
Perkins was an active member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Traubert said, adding that she was preparing students for their first communions.
Her death leaves an opening on the five-person board, which includes Stacy Paris and Kristin Newton. According to Crook, there will be two options for finding a replacement. One is for the board to appoint a new member, and the other is for the board to seek applications from interested individuals. In either case, the person who is eventually selected will have to be a resident of Follansbee or Weirton.
A decision on the process that will be used is expected to be made at the Sept. 28 board meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the board offices, 1201 Pleasant Ave., Wellsburg.
“I knew all of her family, and I just love her family, and I loved Antoinette,” Marks said. “I will miss her.”
Visitation for Perkins will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Brooke High School gymnasium, 29 Bruin Drive, Wellsburg. Additional calling hours will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1017 Jefferson St., Follansbee, on Monday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., when a Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Gerald Muoka. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Follansbee.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the church in her memory.
“She will be missed tremendously,” Traubert added. “She gave everything she had to the school system during the course of her career.”