Outgoing advice: Kids are still kids

By JoAn Bjarko
Fossil Creek Current

Teaching hasn't changed so much in the last three decades, two retiring principals said, as long as schools remember "kids are kids."

In May, Bill Chenoweth retired as principal at Bacon Elementary School, and his wife, Ruth Herron, retired as principal at O'Dea Elementary. They have worked 28 and 25 years, respectively, for Poudre School District. Both received their doctoral degrees from Colorado State University, taking classes nights and summers, while working for PSD.

"In education you have to grow, constantly being engaged in the business you're in," Chenoweth said.

Chenoweth reflected that educators seem to have higher expectations of children these days - they teach more and teach younger - but schools still have to focus on the social and emotional aspects of growing up. "We spend a lot of time on character education," he said. "From day one we were teaching values, respect, responsibility, but now we've formalized it."

Herron added that children "still need to know they're cared for and that you like them." Good principals create a culture in their schools where children feel safe and comfortable and still have fun, they said.

"There's more awareness of safety in schools," Herron noted. "Years ago we never thought about it." In addition to academic subjects and social values, school employees are being trained in lockdowns and crisis response.

Married in 1990, the two principals said they rarely debate educational issues at home. Instead, each respects that the other may need some time alone. "We have an understanding and know how intense it is for each other," Herron said.

"We ask advice from each other, but give each other some space," Chenoweth added. "We do have different styles, too."

In PSD, principals work with several hundred students, their parents and hundreds of volunteers. Chenoweth had 400 students in Bacon Elementary and volunteers contributed 400 hours of work each month. Herron had 300 students at O'Dea and volunteers contributed 350 hours a month. Both schools have about 50 employees.

"You think back about all the people you meet," Herron said. "... I hope my time with kids and parents did help."

Despite all those people and all those years, neither could think of a time they were really stumped by an incident at school.

"You create something unique whenever you need it," Chenoweth said.

"You pull people together, even other agencies, and figure it out," Herron said.

Herron started her association with PSD as a volunteer and was hired as a special education teacher in 1980. She was principal of Timnath Elementary from 1986 to 1996. Chenoweth came to PSD as a sixth grade teacher in 1977. He was principal of O'Dea Elementary from 1980 to 1987, principal at Werner Elementary from 1987 to 2003, and moved on to Bacon Elementary when it opened.

"I think that PSD is one of the finest districts anywhere," Chenoweth said. "I just wouldn't trade it for any system."

Having recently moved to Windsor, the couple are looking forward to a quiet summer with golfing and hiking.