GOSHEN — A large group of fellow educators, Goshen Schools staff and retired administrators attended a punch and cake reception Thursday honoring Goshen Superintendent Bruce Stahly, who is retiring this year.
Administrators from other districts, former board members, principals and school staff attended the event.
Diane Woodworth, who is replacing Stahly, acted as mistress of ceremonies for the several speakers.
She said there are “barely words to describe the man.
“All of the community, students and staff, we thank you for your unending belief in public education,” Woodworth said. “We love you and will miss you greatly.”
Maynard Hartsough, president of the school board, joked that “I couldn’t stay retired,” as Hartsough, a retired city policeman, recently joined the city ordinance enforcement squad.
Hartsough said he has spent more than a decade working with Stahly. He pointed out that a sign of a great leader is someone who is grooming people to replace you. He pointed out that Stahly helped train several people in the Goshen Schools administration who have moved on to top posts across the state.
“You have left us in good financial shape and I appreciate that,” Hartsough said.
Jim Brenneman, Goshen College president, pointed out that he and Stahly graduated from GC in 1967. He called the times “turbulent,” listing the civil unrest across the nation.
“I admire so much you always practicing a non-anxious presence,” Brenneman said. “I am very deeply impressed by your belief in the power of education.
“On behalf of your alma mater, I want to say we rank you very highly as one of the top graduates of Goshen College,” he said.
Retired superintendent Kent Evans told the group that in 1998 one of the best decisions he made was talking Stahly into applying and coming to Goshen.
“You had a well-deserved reputation about the knowledge of school finances. You understood what needed to be done,” Evans said. “I marvel at what you have done, building schools and reaching consensus among the staff.”
Evans pointed to Stahly’s expertise in instruction and curriculum, which has led Goshen to be one of the top schools in the state.
“Most importantly, I appreciate your friendship,” he said. “Thank you for the opportunity work with you. I wish you a great retirement.”
Former assistant superintendent Bob Duell appeared in shorts and a casual shirt, pointing out for Stahly how to dress in retirement.
“I had better see you in shorts,” Duell said.
But he was serious long enough to say he also enjoyed working with Stahly.
“I had the great pleasure of working with Bruce,” Duell said. “I can be testy at times and was always trying to finagle things. Bruce keeps on the straight and narrow and often straightened me out. But we had a great relationship,” he said of school administrators. “We are losing three great ones this year. You were always a great servant-leader. Well done. You were wonderful.”
Stahly responds
Stahly had the last word, but turned the praise back to those with whom he has worked.
“This a terrific school board to work with,” he began. “I had great mentors in Kent and Bob. Bob absolutely has a heart for every child. We have a wonderful office staff in this building, working together to improve education in our community.”
Stahly said people have told him “I’m praying for you. That means a lot. We will be praying for Diane in the future.”
Woodworth said there will also be an appreciation dinner for Stahly in June.
Breaking News
Related Photos
-
West Goshen Elementary School teacher Rita Robertson greets Bruce Stahly at an open house honoring the retiring Goshen Schools superintendent Thursday afternoon, May 17, 2012. ROD ROWE | THE GOSHEN NEWS
Community thanks retiring superintendent
- Breaking News
-
-
Dozens treated after school buses collide
NORTH WEBSTER — A crash involving four Wawasee Community School buses Wednesday resulted in nearly 30 students sent to hospitals, according to a school official.
-
Fitness Fridays begin at Parkview LaGrange
Looking for a way to “jump start” your weekend activities? Leaders at Parkview LaGrange Hospital invite the public to join them every Friday at 4 p.m. for a 2-mile walk around the hospital’s half-mile walking track.
-
UPDATE: Wawasee bus driver, some students taken to hospital after crash
SYRACUSE — A crash Wednesday afternoon involving four Wawawsee Community School buses has sent 25 children and a bus driver to local hospitals for treatment. The crash occurred on Ind. 13 near Clark Marina, which is between Wawasee Middle School and the North Webster town limits.
-
FIT FAMILIES: Hospital or home, which setting is best for delivering a baby?
It would be difficult to find a birth topic more emotionally charged than home delivery. Women and men of all socio-economic, educational and professional backgrounds tend to have strong ideas about home birth vs. hospital birth.
-
School bus crash in North Webster
Samirtan helicopters are en route to a wreck involving mutliple school buses in North Webster.
-
Shipshe Event Center receives AED
Visitors and staff at the Shipshewana Event Center and Hostetler’s Hudson Museum will have a little extra backup in case of emergency thanks to an automated external defibrillator that is now available on site.
-
Graduation season gets underway tonight
The time has come for local high school seniors to begin turning their tassels. After 13 years of schooling in many cases, the Class of 2013 is ready to graduate.
-
Fifth-graders give ‘State Fair’
NAPPANEE — Fifth-graders at Nappanee Elementary School proudly showed off their work at a state fair held Friday in the school gymnasium. The students have been studying states and the fair was the culmination of their work, which began in March.
-
GOSHEN CITY COUNCIL: Standards defined for future tax breaks
Goshen City Council members took the first step in what could soon be a universal approach to the way tax phase-ins are handled throughout Elkhart County.
-
Locals bend Lt. Gov. Susan Ellspermann’s ear on overregulation
Regulations, taxes and the rebound of the recreational vehicle industry were the topics Lt. Gov. Susan Ellspermann heard were important in Elkhart County during a visit Tuesday afternoon.
- More Breaking News Headlines
-
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
