Today was my last day as Principal of my HS...Last Friday I had my last graduation ceremony...last graduation message and last presentation of diploma's...... for 23 years was at SL where I coached,was AD and Asst Prin...then off to PJ as an Asst Principal and Principal for 10 years...then I retired...that lasted 3 months...became principal of BHS for 2 years...NY state only allows me to do 2 years with a waiver until your 65...retired from BHS and then another school needed a Principal....did 2 years at EHS...my MO as principal was " a Vince Lombardi and Mother Theresa style principal"...I did clean up all these schools with not allowing Do-rags,PJ's,flip flops,underpants showing,etc...all these schools needed some discipline and rules enforced...that was my strong point especially with my back round of being a basketball coach....I was also a principal that ate in the cafeteria with the students...never in my office,roamed the halls,did bus duty in the morning and afternoon...etc...greeted 1,200 every morning and said goodbye every afternoon.. on friday was "high five friday" and high 5'ed half the school...I loved poping into classrooms watching teachers teach...
After 2 years at BHS I really retired...went to Austin,Texas for the winter...bought a condo there...did the snow bird route....got to see some UT and Texas St basketball games..capped many of those games here and probably lost more then I won.... missed my Marist games though...then got another call from KCA another HS with all students with special needs...
Almost similar to SL my 1st school...I told them I would do just one year...But fell in love with the students,teachers and parents and did 2 years...
So the last few days I have been packing..summer school starts on Monday....finished the entire summer school schedule...this week...the AC in one of our wings is out..was on the roof this afternoon with the plumber..he fixed it....said goodbye to all my staff. a lot of crying .....I know this is it...have my wife,3 daughters,one son, one granddaughter,one grandson on the way and my Austin son is getting married in April...
How lucky can you get...if only my Phillies and NY Giants can get their act together..
After I got down from the roof I walked in too any empty class..there are 2 big white boards in the front of the room...in 1997 when I left coaching white boards were just starting to replace blackboards..I coached my whole life with chalk and a blackboards...I would of loved to draw my plays on a whiteboard...so smooth and easy to erase....
So I wrote a "Box" farewell...
I diagrammed my zone offense that I used for 20 years..its really coach Tom Davis's offense...drew 3 set plays with the options and player movement.....put at the bottom I love KCA..KCA Pride...took a picture of the board and maybe will have one of my own kids figure for dad how to download it here... on Monday morning an English class will come into that room...probably not read anything on the board and the teacher will have someone erase it...and that's OK....I started as a basketball coach almost 40 years ago....what better way to say goodbye...I walked downstairs,down the hallway,out the front doors and into the parking lot...had my head down with some tears.. got into my car and drove off....I had a sweet life".. we Italians say " La Dolce Vita"...
After 2 years at BHS I really retired...went to Austin,Texas for the winter...bought a condo there...did the snow bird route....got to see some UT and Texas St basketball games..capped many of those games here and probably lost more then I won.... missed my Marist games though...then got another call from KCA another HS with all students with special needs...
Almost similar to SL my 1st school...I told them I would do just one year...But fell in love with the students,teachers and parents and did 2 years...
So the last few days I have been packing..summer school starts on Monday....finished the entire summer school schedule...this week...the AC in one of our wings is out..was on the roof this afternoon with the plumber..he fixed it....said goodbye to all my staff. a lot of crying .....I know this is it...have my wife,3 daughters,one son, one granddaughter,one grandson on the way and my Austin son is getting married in April...
How lucky can you get...if only my Phillies and NY Giants can get their act together..
After I got down from the roof I walked in too any empty class..there are 2 big white boards in the front of the room...in 1997 when I left coaching white boards were just starting to replace blackboards..I coached my whole life with chalk and a blackboards...I would of loved to draw my plays on a whiteboard...so smooth and easy to erase....
So I wrote a "Box" farewell...
I diagrammed my zone offense that I used for 20 years..its really coach Tom Davis's offense...drew 3 set plays with the options and player movement.....put at the bottom I love KCA..KCA Pride...took a picture of the board and maybe will have one of my own kids figure for dad how to download it here... on Monday morning an English class will come into that room...probably not read anything on the board and the teacher will have someone erase it...and that's OK....I started as a basketball coach almost 40 years ago....what better way to say goodbye...I walked downstairs,down the hallway,out the front doors and into the parking lot...had my head down with some tears.. got into my car and drove off....I had a sweet life".. we Italians say " La Dolce Vita"...
Last edited:
