Hook retiring from Sisters schools

For the past 21 years Debbie Hook has been an integral part of the Sisters School District (SSD). From driving a bus to serving as lead custodian at Sisters Elementary School, she has seen it all. She will be retiring on June 30.

"This was a great job, I was blessed to get it," said Hook.

Hook was working in Central Oregon at The Riverhouse before taking the job with the SSD driving school bus in the mid-'90s. She wanted to move her family to a smaller community.

"I love watching the kids grow up and move on," she said. "I have been here long enough that some kids' children are in the District now. I love seeing Sisters kids being successful, they come back and introduce me to their children."

"Working with Deb has been a real pleasure," says her supervisor and Director of Operations Leland Bliss. "I certainly appreciate everything she has given to the District and the community. She is an awesome employee and a genuinely good person."

Her smiling face will be missed around the halls of the elementary school - not just because of the job she did as custodian - but because she truly cares about the kids.

Two years ago, Hook started the "Backpack Food" program in Sisters after witnessing a middle school boy crying at lunch on a Friday because he was being rushed to eat his lunch. She overheard him saying "but this is the only food I'll have all weekend."

"I knew something had to be done," she said. "My daughter works at Tom McCall Elementary in Redmond and she knew about the backpack program at her school."

Hook talked to the principals and counselors and determined the need at both the middle and elementary school for students who may not have access to food at home on the weekends. And every week since then Hook has spent her own money, about $100 a month, to purchase food and place in backpacks for kids.

"Sometimes we forget," she says, "there is a lot of wealth, and sometimes we forget there are people struggling."

With Hook's retirement, the program will continue. The local Family Access Network and Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank will work collaboratively with the schools to determine the need each week. They will store food at the Food Bank office on Main Avenue and prepare backpacks for students on a weekly basis every Thursday. Backpacks will be sent home with students on Fridays.

Hook now lives in Redmond with her daughter and is looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.

"I was lucky to work with great people," she said. "People like Lorry Williams, Jim Wysong and Angie Gardinier - I was blessed to have them as a part of my experience here in Sisters."