Retired Principal Tales

Taking One Day at a Time

Author: Susie Grace

  • I Will Always Wonder

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    Susie Grace
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    My mother was from England. I have always wondered why she and my grandmother decided to make the voyage to live in the United States. She came to the US at the age of 17. She had graduated from Dormer-Wells School at that age. Upon arrival, she started to work at a bank in Boston.…

  • Who Knew?

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    Susie Grace
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    Today, I woke up and willed myself to attend my first Pickleball lesson. It was a good thing the instructor was a good friend! I got dressed and put the tennis shoes on, worried that my bunions would hurt. I do not wear normal shoes most of the time unless you call flipflops a normal…

  • Are You More of a Night or Morning Person?

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    Susie Grace
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    Am I a night or morning person? The answer should be a morning person because I’ve always had to be at work at the crack of dawn. The truth be told, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends all of my life. Late nights and early mornings left me with very little sleep during…

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    Susie Grace
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    The beach is my haven of solitude. The sugary, powder sands of the gulf are like no other The quiet, calm-lapping of the waves gives me peace. A book in hand, a lounge chair, and the warm rays of sun allow me to reset. The only conversation I have to have is with myself. Perfect!

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    Susie Grace
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    My favorite month of the year is January. The major holidays are over for another year, and celebrating the birthdays of my six granddaughters all born from January to May is much more pleasant to me. This time of year is a stressor for me due to the loss of my dad. Remembering the death…

  • Use Your Gut

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    Susie Grace
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    Do I trust my instincts? Yes, yes, and yes again. As a school principal, I always used my gut to make decisions. I wanted to do what was best for the students (and staff). My gut proved to be a good indicator of how I should make decisions. Student elopement and rage were always two…

  • Those Teen Years

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    Susie Grace
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    As my granddaughters enter the teen years, I pray for my daughter and daughter-in-law. I remember all too well how trying those times are. One minute, they are happy, and they love you so much. The next minute, you are the worst, and they are saying, “You hate me!” —and, worse, “I hate you!” Big…

  • Friendships

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    Susie Grace
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    The part of my routine I always seem to skip is maintaining friendships by staying in contact. I find myself a bit of a hermit since retiring. Thank goodness I have a job at the university that forces me to go out into the world. Once I’m there I’m fine. My anxiety of the unknown…

  • Periods

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    Susie Grace
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    I was reminded of a great story from my classroom days during my trip recently. Third graders were my favorites when it came to teaching. They were needy in the beginning, but during the year, these students became so independent. Watching that growth was truly rewarding as a teacher. Third graders were so honest. One…

  • Efficiency

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    Susie Grace
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    I heard that the government might reopen soon. This just blows my mind. How can you just shut down the government? What if educators just decided to shut down schools because they did not agree with something? I know that school would be closed often because there are always reasons for disagreement. Why are the…