Changing of the Guard

Thirty years ago this week I left my job as elementary school principal in Addison to become the Superintendent of Britton-Macon Area Schools. I started on Monday, November 4, 1991, the first day of the second nine week marking period.  I had been interviewed through-out the prior three months, received an offer, and gave my notice, but my then school superintendent wouldn’t release me from my job until the end of the marking period.

The prior Friday I was called to the Addison Superintendent’s office for an impromptu meeting.  The Addison P.T.O. had held its annual Halloween Party the night before.  Like always, it was a huge success. His request to visit his office was a bit unusual, but I thought he might be calling me in to talk about the community celebration.

We began the 1991 school year in September with a series of “Proud to be Drug Free” days on the first Friday of each month.  November 1st was the third in the series of these observances.   Students had lessons designed around the theme and received promotional materials highlighting the concept.  Everyone received a “Proud to Be Drug Free” painters’ hat.

I didn’t wear mine to the meeting, but I did wear one of my drug free t-shirts and a pair of blue jeans.  It’s the only day in my forty year career that I wore blue jeans to work. I felt a bit underdressed when I entered his office.  We spoke a bit about the prior evening’s party and he asked if I was ready for my new position.  I was.  After talking for a few minutes, he received a phone call.

“I’ve got to go to the middle school.  Come with me,”

There were four schools on the Addison campus, all within easy walking distance.  We headed through the high school, out the rear door, and made our way to the middle school.  As we entered, he led me to the school performance/cafeteria.  He opened the door for me and there were five-hundred students, and my entire staff, awaiting my arrival.

“SURPRISE!!!”

I was.

I’d estimate forty parents joined the celebration.  Several people spoke, thanking me for my years of service.  A quartet of  singing sisters, the Hassenzahl girls, sang a song or  two.   A group a fifth graders read the book, “Ira Moves Away”, and presented me with a teddy bear because they knew I liked the Ira stories and his teddy bear.

Near the end I received a huge package.  Each class had signed and decorated a panel of cloth.  The twenty-four panels were sewn together forming a large quilt.  It was a spectacular gift.

My last official act as principal was introducing the leader selected to replace me.  Mrs. Sarvello was a popular member of the staff, so when I announced her as their new principal, all the kids cheered.  They were a happy group.

As the assembled group made their way back to their classrooms one of the fifth grade students asked me to autograph his painters cap.  I complied, and then a second made the same request.  After signing the second cap, I looked up and saw all the fifth-grade students had formed a long line, and one by one, asked me to autograph their cap.

Before the group’s final good-byes, I saw everyone was signing caps.

TBC