Hesler retiring from GHS after 40 years at June end
After serving Greencastle High School in more capacities than its multi-purpose room over the past 40 years, Principal Russ Hesler announced Monday that this will be his final year and he will retire effective June 30.
Hesler made the announcement to his Professional Learning Communities (PLC) group Monday morning and the Greencastle Community School Corporation (GCSC) School Board made it official at its February meeting Monday night.
Hesler, who came to GHS as its wood shop/graphic arts/industrial tech teacher in 1978 and will leave after five years as its principal, said the decision came with “a heavy heart but no regrets as I celebrate 40 years of Greencastle putting up with me.”
He only taught at one place but wore many hats -- all of them purple and gray.
“If there was a job that needed to be done,” the 62-year-old Hesler smiled, “I somehow got demoted .. ‘er, promoted to do it.”
Besides teaching numerous disciplines, Hesler also taught driver’s education, and served as attendance officer, assistant principal (12 years ... “that’s got to be a record”), athletic director, interim principal (four times) and finally principal. That’s not to mention his 24 years as an assistant football coach for the Tiger Cubs and 18 years as wrestling coach, where he fashioned a record of some 230 victories.
“I’ve been through many superintendents and many more principals,” Hesler said, recalling that one time during his dozen years as assistant principal, he also taught a class, was attendance officer and served as athletic director at the same time.
“The bottom line,” he continued, “is it’s all been about the kids. And when you’re having legacies of legacies come back to these halls, you know you’re getting old.”
The GHS principal said he was talking with some senior students Tuesday and commiserating on how fast it is coming to an end.
“We’ve got spring break and prom and Academic Super Bowl, and before you know it another one’s in the books and the eighth-graders are freshmen and the seniors are off to college.
“Watch that happen 40 times, it’s like a miracle.”
Forty years is a long time at one job, Hesler conceded.
“That’s a lot of memories,” he added. “A lot of good memories. Some headaches and some heartaches. Whether you’re shop-teaching or being principal, you never know what tomorrow will bring.
“But it’s always a great day to be a Tiger Cub,” Hesler concluded, uttering, of course, his patented GHS loyalty phrase.
Meanwhile, in other personnel matters, the school board approved:
-- The resignation of Mark Jedele as physics and earth/space science teacher at GHS, effective May 25. Jedele also resigned his extracurricular roles as assistant cross country and assistant track coach at GHS, effective the end of the season.
-- The resignation of Sydney Dickerson as Spanish teacher at GHS, effective May 25.
-- The resignation of Donetta Friend as second-shift custodian at GHS, effective Jan. 15.
-- The resignation of Virginia Wilson as second-shift custodian at Tzouanakis Intermediate, effective Feb. 3.