Gardendale’s mayor and council honored longtime teacher and owner of The Little School in Gardendale at their meeting on Monday night.

Jo Griffin opened The Little School in 1959 and has educated thousands of children since that time, Mayor Stan Hogeland said in a proclamation during the meeting.

“She is Gardendale,” Hogeland said. “She’s one of the people who has made this such a special place to live.”

Hogeland said that Griffin’s legacy would live on in the children she taught and the lessons they learned about society and religion under her care.

The last class to graduate from The Little School was in the spring of 2016. Griffin is now retired after 55 years of teaching.

“She taught Kindergarten at the Little School for 55 years,” Wendy Patterson said. “Her mission was to teach boys and girls about Jesus, their very best friend. She has impacted so many lives in our community and leaves quite a legacy.”

There will be a retirement party honoring Griffin at the Gardendale City Hall on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. Organizers hope Griffin’s former students will attend and let her know how much she meant to them over the years.

“If she has impacted your life, we would like for you to come be a part of this special day,” Hogeland said.