2013 February Spotlight on Phil Lanier

Phil Lanier

Phil Lanier, a locksmith in the school system’s Maintenance Department, is the Classified Advisory Council’s 2013 February Spotlight.

Lanier, a native of Winston-Salem, graduated from Reynolds High School in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree at East Carolina University (ECU) in 1975 and master’s degree in Industrial Arts Education from ECU in 1977. For four years, he taught High School Industrial Arts in Davidson County and spent six years teaching Drafting/Technology at Carver and Glenn high schools.

He became interested in Electronic Alarms, Locks and Security in the late 1980s. He was apprenticed as a Locksmith after leaving the teaching profession. He has also worked as a private/commercial Locksmith Subcontractor for approximately 14 years. He began working with the school system Maintenance Department in 2003 as Schools Locksmith.

He is a member of the Forsyth County Association of Educators (FCAE), ESP (Educational Support Personnel) Chapter Treasurer, Institutional Locksmiths’ Association, Senatorial appointment to a seat on the N. C. Locksmith Licensing Board (term beginning 2013).

He has been married to Colleen Lanier for 35 years. Colleen is retired teacher who now works as an NCAE Uniserve. They have two cats named Figaro and Gideon that they adopted from AARF. Phillip enjoys reading historical fiction and nonfiction books and playing guitar, bass and mandolin.

His Philosophy: “It is a privilege to work alongside people with such expert and diversified skills. We are proud of our roles in the WS/FCS educational family and strive to serve the needs, both routine and emergency, of our schools, teachers and administrators as promptly and efficiently as possible.  We are aware that our missions sometimes present inconveniences and disruptions in the classroom and we respect and appreciate the patience and skills of our classroom teachers as they toil to keep students on task during our service visits.

“I think it is commendable that all of the facets of our school system mesh so harmoniously.  All of my life, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has taken care of me. I am honored now to have a role in looking after her.”