Nearly 30 years in the life of Carol Demic were filled with kids and puppies.

Demic is retiring after working 19 of those 30 years as principal of Loveland Early Childhood Center. Her going-away present was a West Highland white terrier puppy, named Lloyd after the Lloyd Mann School where Demic worked for so many years.

Carol Demic, who retired after working 19 years as principal of Loveland Early Childhood Center, receives a puppy from staff at a retirement party. (Photo courtesy of David Miller) | ZOOM |

"I don't know if I will keep the name Lloyd," she said. "He doesn't look like a Lloyd. I am thinking about Digger or Buttons."

She has devoted her life to early childhood education, often pushing for new policies, specifically emphasizing predevelopment of the child before the first grade.

She said she will miss the children, but not the paperwork. And she is not too fond of the state's No Child Left Behind program.

"This is a state-required test that I don't think is fair. I am for assessing the progress of children and keeping the parents informed, but not a test at this age," she said.

She was hired at the center 30 years ago as the elementary media specialist.

Demic received her undergraduate degree from Morehead College and graduate degree from Xavier University.

"She is probably the finest woman I have ever met," said her husband, John. "She has a remarkable memory."