Principals grade selves after years in education

For Dr. Thaddeus Obloy, what stands out from eight years as an elementary school principal are the times high-schoolers came back to visit their old teachers, and he could see how much they'd grown and changed.

During Jack Houlihan's six years as a principal, the little ways students helped one another were unforgettable: for instance, the time a small student quietly got on the school bus with a paper towel held to his face, and a sharp-eyed eighth-grader realized he had a bloody nose and took care of him.

Both men are retiring this month: Mr. Houlihan, from St. Mary's School in Waterford; Dr. Obloy, from St. Clement's School in Saratoga Springs.

As they looked back on their tenures as principals, both called those years "happy" and "a blessing."

JACK HOULIHAN

Though his career path took several other turns first, Mr. Houlihan believes that God was preparing him to be a principal all along.

Born in Albany, he attended local Catholic schools and spent 10 years as a Holy Cross brother, then taught math in a Burnt Hills school for 14 years. After that, he worked for the New York State Teachers' Retirement System for 16 years.

In 1996, Mr. Houlihan decided to retire. For a few years, he created handmade furniture and did consulting work, but he soon realized he wasn't ready for retirement. When he ran across an advertisement for a principal's position in a newspaper, he realized he had all the necessary qualifications. A few interviews later, he became principal of St. Mary's.

"I think this is what He was preparing me for," Mr. Houlihan told The Evangelist. "I've done what God wanted me to do."

Busy times

The work of a principal surprised him in its complexity -- especially in the reams of paperwork required to meet both state and diocesan regulations.

"We have so many meetings!" he added, ticking off board meetings, PTO get-togethers and heart-to-heart talks with parents.

A lot of his job involved social work for students in crisis -- "more than I would like," he stated. "Kids and families are in trouble these days; if I had my druthers, I'd [hire] a counselor" for the school.

Time to go

Looking toward retirement, Mr. Houlihan said he'd miss the students and staff at St. Mary's, but not miss rising at 4 a.m. to leave his home in Athens for the drive to school.

This time, he thinks he's ready to retire: "It's time to move on. I've done what I could for the school; it's time for someone else to give it direction."

But maybe he's not quite ready for retirement yet. Before turning back to his work, he added: "To teach math in a community college would be nice."

THADDEUS OBLOY

"I'm really retiring," Dr. Obloy said firmly. "I've got nothing lined up."

After 40 years in what he termed "an exciting and varied career," he's convinced the time is ripe for rest and relaxation.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Obloy recalled an advisor at Ohio State University asking him decades ago, "What's your long-range plan?" The college student answered, "To be a principal."

Life span

Dr. Obloy earned his doctorate from Ohio State, then came to New York and worked as director of human services for the Guilderland Central School District.

He left that position to become a superintendent for the New Lebanon Central Schools, and finally an elementary-school principal in New Lebanon.

Teachers, he said, have a great influence in their classrooms, but less so on an entire school. He wanted "to have a little larger impact on a school than a teacher does -- overall responsibility for curriculum, finances" and the like.

Dr. Obloy came to St. Clement's eight years ago; under his leadership, the school achieved Middle States accreditation, one marker of a quality school. He worked on remedial education programs and enrichment programs for students.

Year-long effort

The duties of a principal start early every day, he noted: "I like to get in half an hour or 45 minutes before the teachers arrive to get things done. A lot of the work is administrative in nature."

Most people don't realize that principals work during the summer and during school breaks, he added. Last summer, for example, he hired three teachers; and when students were on vacation, he was working on the budget for the following school year.

The principal admitted that he enjoyed the challenge of budgeting: meeting the needs of the staff, working with parents and the school board to hear their concerns, and "managing [funds] so we don't run out of money in January!"

One struggle Dr. Obloy faced was confronting families who hadn't paid their children's tuition. He always tried to re-work payment plans to make it possible for students to stay.

"That's a tough one, when you have a student not attend school because of the actions of the parents," he noted. "I always say, 'Come and talk to me.'"

Memories

Eight years at St. Clement's "passed very quickly," according to Dr. Obloy. He remarked that, four decades after entering the field of education, he remembers his student-teaching days as if he just completed them.

He also remembers all the student concerts and plays he's enjoyed over the years.

"So many kids, so many moments," he mused. "I've been blessed, no question about that. It's been a great career. All the support from staff, parents and committees made the job easier."

(6/8/06) [[In-content Ad]]