Sidney Ann Bridges, who for more than four decades was the face of the Houston School District, passed away Monday.
Ms. Bridges was 88 and had been a resident at Houston House since 2017. She was one of the most influential employees ever to serve since she arrived at the superintendent’s office in December 1958 as bookkeeper and treasurer for the county’s largest school district. A graduate of Houston High School in 1956, Ms. Bridges only had one other job before arriving at school — a brief stint at International Shoe Co.
From the superintendent’s office on campus and in the shadow of the old high school building that she attended, Ms. Bridges was the go-to-source for all things Houston Schools. She helped guide school boards and seven superintendents until her retirement in June 2003. After that she worked part-time for another year as part of a transition for training on her job that was expansive.
As superintendents arrived and departed over 45 years, Ms. Bridges was their book of knowledge, providing a historical perspective and knowledge on how things operated today. If a superintendent or school board member didn’t have the exact information, a common refrain was, “I’ll ask Sidney Ann.”
In 2000, she was inducted into the Educator Hall of Fame at Houston.
“She was a treasure to our district, for sure,” said Dr. Joe Richardson, who served on the school board for 21 years. “Just knowing she had filled that position right out of high school (when I was 7 years old) and already had 26 years of experience when I first got on the board always floored me.”
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church on East Route 17 in Houston where she played the piano and organ for worship and was an active member. A visitation is noon to 1 p.m. Burial is at Pine Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Murr Cemetery, Oak Hill Cemetery or Texas County Library.
