1936 - Music program was begun under the leadership of Mrs. Louise Thomas. Her time was shared with each elementary school.

1938 - Park Street PTA organized as an independent unit.

1939 - PTA planted trees, grass and shrubbery.

1942 - First cafeteria opened, located at the Fayetteville Street School and shared between the two schools. The PTA helped finance this project and even provided some of the knives, forks, and spoons used.

1943 - Our school has become so over crowded that double sessions are held. The PTA worked hard to get a bond election passed for buildings and school improvements.

1944 - Cafeteria opened in the Lutheran Church (mothers prepared food.)

1948 - In-school cafeteria completed. For many years Mrs. Lillian Tysor served as dietician for the lunch room program. Upon her retirement, Mrs. Betty Beane became the dietician. Federal assistance has helped in funding the lunch room program.

1952 - Asheboro City School System added a second music teacher to the elementary program. Mrs. Rose Patterson became the music teacher for Donna Lee Loflin School. She taught music in our school two days a week.

1954 - Mr. Dwight Holland became the supervisor of Art Instruction for the Asheboro City School System.

1958 - Upper wing finished.

1959 - Mr. James Maxton Stout came to our school, providing excellent custodial services. He worked from 1959-1989 at Donna Lee Loflin, when he retired after 30 years of service.

1959 - Fire destroyed the middle classroom section of the lower wing.

1960 - Lower wing rebuilt. Children are able to return to classes at Park Street School.

1962 - Dr. Johnny R. Parker became the first Director of Elementary Education for Asheboro City Schools. He gave valuable leadership and guidance to the educational programs.

1963 - Mrs. Marie Malpass became the first attendance officer of Asheboro City Schools. She maintained an office in Loflin School, working closely with students and parents who have special needs relative to school attendance.

1965 - A Speech Therapist is added to our Elementary School Staff. Mrs. Doris Smith served in this position until her retirement in 1979. Mrs. Liz Motteler held this position for one year, followed by Mrs. Robin Kirkpatrick.

1965 - Park Street School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a very high honor.

1965 - Miss Donna Lee Loflin retired.

1965 - School's name changed to Donna Lee Loflin School.

1965 - Mr. Donald Chisholm became the second principal of Donna Lee Loflin School.

1965 - Mrs. Anna Shaw is employed as secretary of Loflin School, followed by Mrs. Margaret Nance and Mrs. Kay Cagle.

1969 - Mrs. Della Lee Jamision becomes Art Instructor. She shares her time with five elementary schools. She comes one day each week to give art instruction to the children at Loflin School.

1969 - The Learning Disabilities Program was begun in our school with Mrs. Rayburn Blevins as the first teacher, followed by Mrs. Helen Biddle and Mrs. Mary Beth White.

1970 - Mrs. Elizabeth Brissan is hired by Asheboro City Schools as the first PE teacher. She comes to Donna Lee Loflin one day each week initially, later increasing her time to two days each week when another PE Teacher is hired to assist in serving five elementary schools. Mrs. Rebecca Curtis followed Mrs. Brissan and served until the spring on 1979, succeeded by Mrs. Jane Lewis.

1973 - The Kindergarten Program begins. Kindergarten children were chosen by a lottery system for the first two years. Since the fall of 1975 all kindergarten children have been enrolled as a part of our school program.

1973 - The Exceptional Children's Program is initiated with the hiring of Mrs. Irene Isley as the first director of Exceptional Children's Program for Asheboro City Schools. Donna Lee Loflin continues to have a strong EC program.

1974 - For many years the Loflin School Health Room was staffed by volunteer mothers, but this year Asheboro City Schools employed a nurse to serve all elementary schools. The nurse spends one day each week in our school. Mrs. Shirley Harrington served one year in this position, followed by Mrs. Lucille Jenkins (retired in 1979) and Mrs. Pansey Powell.

1974 - Donna Lee Loflin School received its second accreditation from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.

1975 - Mr. Bill Robinson is hired as school psychologist for the Asheboro City Schools. He provided significant support and guidance help for the many special needs of our school children.

1976 - Renovations and new additions are added to the Loflin School facility. A new Media Center is built and two additional classrooms are added to the upper building. The old library and office space is completely renovated and now house a modern suite of offices, a conference room, a duplicating room, a health room, art supply room, and two additional classrooms for the speech and learning disability program.

1976 - A full time assistant is employed to help with the media center activities. Some of the new programs include the Donna Lee Loflin School Storytellers (5th grade media helpers), participation in the Optimist Oratorical Contest, special holiday storytelling festivals, creative writing, and other special activities that include music, poetry, and dance.

1976 - The Primary Reading Program became a vital part of our school. Mrs. Peggy Woodruff became the Reading Coordinator for the Asheboro City Schools System.

1976 - The Title I Reading Lab became a part of our school program. Mrs. Annie Dorsett is employed as the teacher with Mrs. Linda Baldwin as her assistant.

1977 - Frannie Lemmons Developmental Center opens its doors at Donna Lee Loflin School, providing services for children with profound developmental difficulties.

1981 - Asheboro City Schools receives Level III Accreditation, the highest level any school can receive from the State.

1981 - The new Donna Lee Loflin School song is presented to the public at the PTA program honoring the history of Donna Lee Loflin School, and paying tribute to Mr. Donald R. Chisholm, Loflin School's second principal. The words were written by Mrs. Nan Kemp and Mrs. Ruth Jackson. Carolina fans may recognize the tune; it is taken from the music called "The College Song."

 

 

Hark the sound of Loflin voices,
Ringing clear and true.
Through the years we've made such mem'ries
Leaving makes us "blue"!

Your halls of learning gave to us
All we value most.
And all the great truths we have gained here
Will never ev'r be lost!

We salute you, our dear teacher
who warmly did impart,
Your great knowledge and your friendship
Thank you from our hearts.

[CHORUS]

Always we will Cherish you
And we'll ne'er forget,
All the friends and all the fun time
At dear Loflin School

 

1984 - An emblem and motto is adapted by Asheboro City Schools: "Educating children, building responsible adults!" The emblem was created by student Kasey Morris.

1986 - Richard Harrington replaced Donald Chisholm as principal of Donna Lee Loflin School.

1989 - Jan Callaway, Kindergarten teacher at Donna Lee Loflin School wins the NEA's Terry Sanford Award.

1991 - The National Education Association chooses Asheboro as its nationwide Learning Lab because local teachers and school officials for many years have worked toward making education exciting.

1993 - Principal Richard Harrington dies. Dr. Steven Bingham is appointed as principal in August.

1995 - Donna Lee Loflin becomes one of 27 schools in the state to be designated a North Carolina A+ School. Building from Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences model, the program fuses performing and visual arts with academic instruction. Dance and Drama are added to the curriculum.

1995 - A $2.5 million face lift plan is revealed for Donna Lee Loflin School. The money comes from a combination of construction funds set aside by Asheboro City Schools and an additional $500,000 promised by Randolph County Commissioners. John Sinnett is hired as the project's architect.

1996 - Cathy Cranford Futral's painting of Donna Lee Loflin as it looked prior to current construction undertaking is completed for former Loflin School principal Donald Chisholm. The first numbered print is framed and donated to the school.

 

The history of Donna Lee Loflin School revolves around its strong leadership, its superb professional staff and support staff, its excellent student body, and its supportive parents, all of whom have demonstrated their commitment to the education and well-being of the children of our community.