ELLAVILLE — William C. Johnson, Schley County School superintendent, sits back in his chair behind his desk in the Schley County Board of Education office, phone in one hand, talking to a news reporter, and at the same time, talking to one of his staff members, taking care of school business.

Johnson, it was announced earlier this month, will be retiring from the position he has held for 20-plus years, on June 20, and Larry Stubbs, principal, Schley County Middle/High School, will be stepping into the role.

Johnson is married to Janice and father of Justin, manager of Ruby Tuesday in Pooler, and Jessica Scott (married to Stewart, mother of Johnson’s first grandchild, Knox, 5 months.

Johnson, a hint of a happy tone in his voice, described the birth of his grandson. “I had a combination of feelings. Awe, relief that he was OK, pride, joy ... undescribeable when you see your first grandchild.”

Linking those feelings to his upcoming retirement, Johnson said, “Having the first grandchild and my retirement ... it is similar ... both symbolize a new chapter, a new beginning in the story of my life.”

Johnson added that after his retirement, “Now I have the opportunity to do and experience some things that I had not experienced before.”

A “Schley County lifer,” Johnson said, “I went to school here for all 12 years, then I taught, and was a principal for eight years, and then superintendent. So, all total I have been connected to the system for 50 so years.”

Though Johnson has had the opportunity to leave Schley County, he stayed, for a number of years, “Well, for one, this is home and two, as principal and later, as superintendent, I had the chance to do a good many things to help our school system and give our kids here the chance for the best education possible ... an added plus was I had several people who bought into the ideas I had and shared that with me.”

Johnson, who has two degrees from Georgia Southwestern College, a master’s from the University of Georgia and his specialist degree from Georgia State University, said of Larry Stubbs, the next Schley County superintendent, “He and I have worked together for about 12 years now, so we have shared pretty much the same principles.

“If I was going to give him some advice, I would just remind him to do the best he can and to always put the kids first, and if he does that, he will be able to lay down and sleep good most nights,” Johnson said.

Then he added, “My sixth-grade teacher, Eloise Duncan, said to us, ‘Good, better, best, never let it rest, until the good gets better, and the better gets best.’ That quote stuck with me all these years. At first, it was the rhyme, then, as I became an adult, the quote was motivational for me as it kept me going and made me see how important it is to improve.

“There is another quote, and I can’t remember where I got that from, but it sort of is an addition to that one, and it is ‘The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.’ ”

Johnson closes his door to the Schley County superintendent’s office for the last time in June, and heads to the retirement chapter of his life. “I really am not making any concrete plans for the first few weeks ... months,” he said. “but I am planning to catch up with some things I haven’t had a chance to do.”

He laughed, “I don’t plan on sitting and rocking until ... whenever.”

Johnson’s official day of retirement is June 20.

The Schley County School District is hosting a retirement reception for Johnson from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Schley County High School. Citizens are invited to drop in and wish Johnson well. A program will be from 2-2:30 p.m.