Having just handed my son his diploma (how many dads get to do that!); having maintained a 100% graduation rate, and positive achievement trends; having ushered in some exciting 21st century teaching and learning innovations during my four-year tenure; having bid a fond farewell to students and teachers for the summer; having announced my erstwhile assistant principal as returning to take over leadership; and having just received my travel orders; it is time for me to say goodbye to Bitburg High School. Though, as we are fond of saying, "I'll always be a Baron."
Goodbyes are bittersweet, but the bright side is that they do make way for exciting new "hellos!" Or, "hello agains." With our parents aging, with Jeshua starting college at Oregon State, and (having lived, worked, travelled and played on four continents) with our wanderlust well sated, we are so happy to be returning home to The Rogue Valley in Oregon.
I am pleased, proud, and excited to begin service as principal at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Medford, officially on August 1, but already working towards a smooth and successful in-transition. I am impressed by the school's high quality staff, strong commitment to excellence, and embodiment of Catholic values--it feels like such a good fit!
My conversations with the parish and the school, as well as conversations with my mother, and conversations with my in-laws, and comments and "likes" and support of friends and colleagues...in fact just about every metric, and every indicator, reinforces the "rightness" of this decision, and this move, for me, and for our immediate as well as extended family, at this time.
The Voice that began as a whisper ("make a change") grew louder and louder--I am so glad I listened.
And now, onward.
