My last day is Friday. I have 40-and-a-half years; I was hired in August 1977. I was at Plaza Junior High for two years teaching math and coaching basketball. Then I went to Kempsville High for nine years teaching math and coaching basketball. Then when I started in administration, I was at Bayside Junior High for four years. I went back to Kempsville as an assistant principal for nine years. I went to Salem and was there for like two years and nine weeks because it was after the first nine weeks that I came here. It was called Safe Schools and Risk Management. It was a new position.
What will you miss?
The relationships with the people. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never had a bad boss. For the last 14 years I’ve had John Kalocay and Dale Holt. You couldn’t ask for two better people. I spent nine years with Lou Tonelson. I’ve worked with some really good people – Jobynia Caldwell, and Don Harvey was great to work for when I was new to teach you the ropes. Don Stowers was at Bayside. I was fortunate because I worked with good people. One thing I learned when I left Kempsville teaching – I was concerned going into administration and how things would change and thinking that I had great people at Kempsville and that was the only school with great people – you realize that one of the obvious strengths of the school system is the quality of the people. You have really good people across the board at every school. I think that’s what is going to sustain the school system and make it the premier school system.
The one thing I worry about for people, the biggest change I’ve seen, is the technology and your availability. You never get away from work, which I think is – I don’t care what anybody says, it’s not good for you; you need downtime. I think that’s one thing I worry about for administrators, you’re never away from things. And more so for the kids, they never get away from the device. For the brain to regenerate, they need more downtime. And if they don’t get that, it’s really going to impact these kids.
What’s next for you?
I knew I couldn’t sit home. I’d lose my mind. I’m used to working a lot of hours and doing things. I knew I had to do something. This job that I ran across is as a contract worker as a background investigator. I’m hoping I can make a go of it to keep me busy. It will be less hours and I can get myself in better shape. I can sleep better.
Are you glad you chose a career in education?
I wouldn’t trade it. It’d be nice to have more money. At Kempsville I had great classes and I had some really great kids to coach. That was something I will never forget. The whole experience at Bayside was another great experience – again, good kids. Salem was a great experience. The people were so friendly, the math department accepted me right away and took me under their wing. But especially the coaching piece and the players you worked with. I don’t think you can put a price tag on that.
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