Andre "Joe" Scruggs retired from NIESC at the end of June 2024 after having been on staff for 44 years in one role or another.
Joe started out in 1980 splicing and repairing 16mm reel to reel film for the service centers resource library. The center mailed out the 16mm film to different schools until vehicles were purchased to deliver them. In those days, the center would fix and repair equipment such as apple computers, floppy disk drives, TV's. overhead projectors, tape recorders, and other school equipment. They went from reel to reel, to videos, to DVD's, finally to streaming video in schools.
Joe's job shifted when vehicles were purchased and he became NIESC's delivery driver. Monday through Friday Joe would deliver and pick up media materials to and from schools. He remembers carrying a pager and having to find a phone booth to return the message back to the service center. Joe laughs and says, "we have come a long way since those days!"
Joe shared that he enjoyed driving and making deliveries and pickups around northern Indiana. He enjoyed meeting and interacting with staff at the schools that he went to. The best part about the job to him was the appreciation that he received from every school he went to.
As Joe reflected on his time at NIESC, he shared, "I enjoyed the years I worked for NIESC and the people I met over the years. The hours that I worked for the center enabled me to leave at an early time to be able to work with and coach students. It means a lot to be able to impact students in a positive way. I hope that I've been a ray of sunshine to those that I have met over the years. They say if you enjoy what you do then you will never work a day in your life. I feel that I've been a blessed individual and God is not done with me yet."
Even though Joe has retired from NIESC he will still continue to work at Adams High School. Joe does security as well as coach cross-country, wrestling, and track.
In his spare time, Joe enjoys getting on the road and traveling from time to time. He also enjoys officiating at wrestling events and attending other sporting events.
Everyone at NIESC would like to thank Joe for all that he has done over the years for the service center, schools, and most importantly the kids. We are grateful for him and wish him all the best during this next chapter of his life!
