A TRIBUTE TO CONNIE BACK

The Boys Home community sadly mourns the passing of Assistant Director of Boys Home School Connie Back who passed away on October 24, 2021. She was 59 years old. Connie was a dedicated educator to students and a friend to her fellow employees. We will miss her dearly. 

Connie was a 1980 graduate of Alleghany County High School and graduated from Radford University in 1984 with a B.S. degree in Education. Connie was a long-time educator who taught students with special needs in several school divisions across Virginia. Her teaching career began in Henrico County. When she moved back to the area, she worked at Covington High School and then at Alleghany High School. After her retirement from public education, she became a teacher at Boys Home School in Covington. She was deeply invested in her students and poured herself into helping them succeed. 

Teresa Johnson, director of education at Boys Home, worked closely with Connie. She says, “The Lord places people in our lives for a reason. Mrs. Back was a good friend and coworker. She did what was in the best interests of the students at Boys Home. I will not forget a comment from a parent bringing their child to campus for a tour. Mrs. Back and I introduced ourselves to the family and she told her son, “Look! They get along–and they even work together!” 

Executive Director Donnie Wheatley adds, “Connie was a student-centered teacher. She was always looking for a way to make a decision that would enable the student to benefit. Her background brought the commitment and experience to assist the students and Boys Home staff formulate a plan to help students continue on a path of success. She listened to them, but  in a helpful way to keep them on task. Her steady approach to helping and involving the students will be missed.”

The family suggests that donations be made to Boys Home of Virginia in memory of Connie.