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Memorandum
from
Mary Kay Murphy
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Mary Kay Murphy, Ph.D.
District 3
School Board Member
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June 7,
2005
The Role
of the Principal
On a Wednesday morning in May of this year, I caught a plane
from
Hartsfield-Jackson
International
Airport
destined for
Stapleton
International
Airport
in
Denver
. Mine was a
mission of love, support, delight, and commitment.
I was headed to
Stony
Creek
Elementary School
in
Jefferson County
,
Colorado
to observe the retirement ceremonies for Mike Connors as
Founding Principal of Stony Creek.
He had been Principal for 21 years—the only Principal
the school and its community had ever known.
The
plane departed on time and the flight was orderly.
My interest in our final destination peaked as I
began to see the familiar hues of arid land in
Kansas
and
Colorado
, interspersed with the vivid greens as farmers aerated
their land and watered their crops.
I watched in anticipation as my journey brought
me closer to my appointment on the day--to witness the
retirement from 42 years of leadership in public
education of Mike Connors, my brother.
The event was magnificent.
More than 1000 people attended.
The Chorus of Stony Creek Elementary School serenaded
Mr. Connors. The
Faculty Chorus sang a song they created, “He’s Our
Mike.” An
esteemed elementary school principal, formerly Dean of Stony
Creek Elementary School, spoke on behalf of the faculty and
administrators that Mr. Connors had mentored.
Several parents spoke of the community’s
love and respect for Mr. Connors.
Four young men, from Cub Scout to Boy Scout
status, gave Mr. Connors a plaque and saluted him for
his support of their work over two decades.
Two young Girl Scouts presented him with a
picture of their troop and gave him the Girl Scout
salute.
Mr. Connors spoke about the meaning of
those twenty-one years to him and at the end of very
touching remarks quoted his boyhood hero, Roy Rogers,
who said, “Happy Trails to you, until we meet
again.”
The event
reminded me of how much those of us in District III of
Gwinnett County Public Schools appreciate our
principals—at our elementary schools, our middle
schools, and our high schools.
Principals are among the most significant figures
of influence in education—whether in public schools or
in private schools.
Principals
set the tone for the academic program.
They link the school to the community.
They represent the integrity of the school
system. They
influence teachers and provide role models for students.
They support and empower parents in their role
and influence over their children.
Principals are the heart and soul of the school
community.
As the
2004-05 school year ends, it is important for our
community to express appreciation to the outstanding
principals who lead our District III Gwinnett County
Public Schools.
These
leaders include the following:
Mrs. Mary Anne Charron, principal of
Norcross
High School
; Mr. Pat Blenke, principal of
Duluth
High School
; Dr. Gwen Tatum, principal of
Hull
Middle School
; Mr. Dana Pugh, principal of
Summerour
Middle School
; Dr. Kay Harvey, principal of Duluth Middle School; and
Ms. Joyce Callahan, principal of Pinckneyville Middle
School.
Our
elementary school principals include the following: Mrs.
Kathy Eichler, principal of
Peachtree
Elementary School
; Ms. Bron-Gayna Schmid, principal of Simpson Elementary
School; Ms. Esther Atapka-Jiminez, principal of Beaver
Ridge Elementary School; Ms. Cindy Burgess, principal of
Chattahoochee
Elementary School
; Ms. Carlotta Rozzi, principal of
Chesney
Elementary School
; Ms. Donna Ledford, principal of
Stripling
Elementary School
; Dr. Lenore Watkins, principal of Norcross Elementary
School; Ms. Nancy Hammond, principal of B.B. Harris
Elementary School; and Ms. Paula DeWeiss, principal of
Mason Elementary School.
As another
school year begins, a new principal has been named for
Pinckneyville
Middle School
. Ms. Joyce
Callahan will move on to become a Title I Coordinator
for the
Meadowcreek
Cluster
Schools
and Ms. Nancy Martin, principal of Five Forks Middle
School in Gwinnett County for fourteen years, has been
named as new principal of Pinckneyville Middle School.
We express
appreciation to Ms. Callahan for her years of leadership
and service to the Norcross Cluster, including her
position as Assistant Principal of
Summerour
Middle School
and Principal of Pinckneyville Middle School.
We welcome Ms. Martin to her new leadership
position and wish her much success in this important
role.
At the last
faculty meeting of the 2004-05 year at
Simpson
Elementary School
, Principal Bron Gayna-Schmid observed, “There is
nothing like a school community.
Of all the communities, the school community is
the most caring, the most loving, and the move
supportive.”
As District
III School Board member, I thank the principals of the
schools in our community for their dedication, devotion,
and commitment to creating the very special school
communities offered by the Gwinnett County Public
Schools. We
say to all our school principals, as my brother said to
his community in
Jefferson County
,
Colorado
, “Happy trails to you—until we meet again.”
060705
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