Spend some time in the Cairo School District, and you’ll probably cross paths with Valerie Hall. For nearly three decades, she’s been a steady presence behind the scenes, keeping things organized and running smoothly.

Valerie currently serves as a business office clerk, though that title only hints at all she does. “We do a little bit of everything,” she says with a laugh. “Since we’ve lost a couple of employees, I’ve been helping with HR, bill payments, payroll—whatever it takes to keep things flowing.”

She also serves as the district’s Board of Education recorder, a role she’s held off and on since 1994. “I took minutes for at least fifteen years,” she says. “Now that I’m back in the district office, I’ve picked it up again.”

Valerie was born in Charleston, Missouri, and raised in Chicago. She returned to Southern Illinois in 1991 seeking a safer place to raise her daughter. “I’d been working at a preschool in Chicago, but I just needed some peace,” she says. “My dad was living in Cairo, so I decided to come home.”

Her career in education began in 1996 at Cairo Junior High, where she worked for five years. “That’s where I got my start,” she says. “It was busy, but I loved it.”

In 2001, she left to continue her education, completing her associate and bachelor’s degrees by 2006. She returned to the district as a truancy secretary, later moving into the grant department. “I wore a lot of hats,” she says. “At one point, I was both the truancy secretary and the school board recorder. I just helped wherever I was needed.”

When longtime secretary Helen Green retired, Valerie transferred to Emerson Elementary in 2011 and stayed until 2024. “That school became like family to me,” she says. “It was full of wonderful people and memories.”

Over the years, Valerie has served under multiple superintendents and administrators. “The only building I haven’t worked in full-time is the high school,” she says. “But even then, I helped part-time with the 21st Century after-school program as coordinator.”

Valerie raised two children through the Cairo schools—her daughter, a 2006 graduate who’s now a registered nurse, and her son, who later completed Job Corps and earned his GED. “I’m proud of both of them,” she says. “They’ve done well for themselves.”

When her children moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas, Valerie had to adjust to a quieter home. “It was hard at first,” she admits. “But now I’m used to it. I talk to them all the time.”

Cairo itself has changed since she arrived. “In the early 2000s, Cairo had more businesses,” she recalls. “You could buy clothes, groceries, hardware—whatever you needed. It’s different now, but I still believe in this place.”

She’s also watched education evolve. “When my kids were in school, things were more structured,” she says. “Parents had more control. Now there are more rules about what teachers and parents can do, and that’s made it tougher. But our staff still works hard and truly cares about these kids.”

Valerie hopes to see Cairo thrive again. “There are a lot of people who’d love to come back,” she says. “We just need housing and opportunity. I’d love to see these empty lots filled again.”

Her optimism carries over to the schools. “We’re doing everything we can to help students succeed,” she says. “Through grants, we’ve been able to take kids outside Cairo to see what’s out there. Some don’t have the means to travel, so it’s exciting for them.”

She believes awareness is key. “There are so many resources—college programs, job training, financial help,” she says. “Families just don’t always know they exist. We’ve got to keep sharing that information.”

Looking back, Valerie says she’s grateful for the journey. “The district has been like family to me,” she says. “I’ve met so many wonderful people and learned so much. I’m proud to be part of Cairo Schools.”

At sixty-one, she isn’t sure when she’ll retire. “Maybe after next year,” she says with a smile. “But I’m happy right where I am. I’ll know when it’s time.”

When asked how she hopes to be remembered, Valerie doesn’t hesitate. “For my loyalty,” she says softly. “For helping keep things going. And for being part of Cairo—for most of my life, this has been home.”