McGalliard has been a great asset

To the editor:

I was disheartened by the article regarding the shutting down of additional elementary schools, restructuring students and moving principals around yet again within the district.

I understand that financial constraints, aging of buildings and declining enrollment are the big factors in the decision making of the school board members as well as the superintendent. I would not want their positions, and I try very hard not to criticize those who are willing to sit on such boards as I am quite sure they have many others who will take my place in doing so.

That being said, I am beyond disappointed that Redkey Elementary School is going to be losing another great principal in Jan McGalliard. I have known Jan since junior high and know that her desire to help the children is above and beyond most present day administrators.

Jan has been one of the most proactive administrators to come to Redkey Elementary in quite some time. She is known lovingly by the students as Mrs. McG, and I cannot stress enough what she means to all the students as well as the family members of those students.

Jan dresses up with the kids on dress up days, she gives them high fives and praises in the hallways, she has gone to great lengths to involve the families as well as the entire community in the school. She holds convocations during the day and carries them over into evenings, allowing parents, grandparents and siblings to enjoy and be involved with their child. And she has also been an integral part of having a food drive held monthly at the school to provide for the community when they may not have otherwise.

I realize that Jan is low man on the proverbial totem pole when it comes to seniority but not sure other factors shouldn’t be explored as well when making those decisions. Those factors include what I stated above, and that recently Jan obtained her school superintendent license and is just two classes away from being Dr. Jan McGallliard. She’s taking those classes while being an outstanding school principal at Redkey Elementary and a mother to her own six boys (four of whom are still at home and enrolled in Jay Schools) and twin daughters (also enrolled in Jay Schools). I’m not saying her ability to do this while raising children should be a consideration, however, it shows her desire to be proactive in education which is a scarcity today.

This is not to bash the school board or current administration. This is to give kudos to Jan McGalliard for her achievements both in and out of the classrooms, for her ability to make each and every child within a school feel like they are the best and for reigniting a community to become more involved with the school that I attended and now my grandchildren attend. Jan has proven her self to be invested in the well-being and education of communities in which we both grew up in.

Thank you Jan for your dedication to bettering the education of others. While it breaks my heart for the Redkey Elementary families and students who have grown to love and appreciate you, I for one am extremely grateful for what you have done.

Kudos to you Mrs. Jan McGalliard and may you continue to strive for the betterment of students for many years to come.

Misty Clark

Portland