Principles of Principals

April 15, 1981 brought a shrill ring to the kitchen yellow-rotary phone in our Colorado double-wide trailer.  The call changed the lives of 15 families forever and left my 27-year old mother to raise 5 children on her own.  A methane gas explosion took the lives of fifteen coal miners that day, and left me with the stark reality of shattered dreams, 12 years old, I lost my best friend, my Dad. Developmentally, those years were principle to me, as they are to all young boys.  And I entered my 7 th grade year one angry child.  While my mother wasn’t equipped to address my angst, I found refuge in school and in the comfort of my classrooms. I remember the names and faces of every single teacher I’ve ever had.  The principals too.  I recall key conversations, escapes from bad days to Mr. Hayes’ office, extra laps courtesy of the Coach Martin/Price/Close trio, another draft of my essay on Watergate at the red-inked edits of Mr. Tesmer, and the repeated encouragements of Ms. McDon