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By Jean Braithwaite
Tribune Correspondent
ELK GARDEN - After being connected to Elk Garden School for 39 years as a student, teacher, coach, and principal, Charles Keller will be retiring and leaving the small mountain top community.
Graduating from Elk Garden High School in 1964, he looks back on his student days and remembers his own principal, Frank Burgess.
“Mr. Burgess was a man, who although small in stature, was a man of great integrity and character,” Keller said. “He had quiet dignity that was pervasive in everything he said or did.”
Saying that there was no interest during his high school career to be “a teacher, much less a principal,” he pointed out, “When I did become a principal, I regret that I did not exhibit the same qualities as Mr. Burgess.”
Keller did state that throughout his years as principal, “I was associated and dealt with wonderful parents, students, and colleagues.”
On the same note, he stated, “I have also dealt with some parents and students who were not so wonderful, not necessarily terrible, but not as wonderful as I would have hoped.”
When Keller finishes his last day at Elk Garden Primary School, around June 15, he said, “All the good things, all the bad things, all the good people, and all the less-than- good people - I will miss them all.”
Speaking about a motto that Keller has held for numerous years and will continue to embrace in his retirement, he said, “I am certain that, no matter how badly life may be treating me, things could be worse.”
Moving back to his home in York, Pa., and after 43 straight years of employment, he does not want to “stop cold turkey and do nothing.”
With ideas to work part-time as a tutor or tax preparer, Keller said, “I want to ease into retirement.”
Mentioning a great-nephew who is just finishing the first grade in Baltimore County and showing an interest in sports, he said, “I will be attending as many of his athletic events as I can.”
Interested in traveling, both within the United States and abroad, Keller will in the near future journey to Australia and New Zealand.
Wanting to share some advice with Michael Saturday, his replacement as principal at Elk Garden, Keller said, “Know and understand the culture of the people in the mountain top communities.”
Adding more to the recommendation for Saturday, he stated, “The values and ideals subscribed to by our local parents may be different from those you have experienced before, but embrace the cultural differences and you will be successful.”
Keller said when leaving the Elk Garden area, “My roots are here, and no matter where I go or what I do, my heart will always be here.”
Saturday, presently a vice principal at Keyser High School, will take over the leadership of Elk Garden Primary in early August.
Saying that he anticipates no major adjustments when arriving in Elk Garden, he stated, “I was an elementary principal a few years ago at a school similar in size.”
Continuing with thoughts on the difference from being in charge of high school students to a younger set of students, Saturday said, “Change keeps us from becoming stagnant.”
When his tenure at Elk Garden Primary begins, he has several expectations from staff members, including “hard work, cooperation, dedication, enthusiasm for the profession, and a love of the children.”
“The staff can expect the same things from me, and I believe in being a mentor principal,” Saturday said.
With the Elk Garden students in mind dealing with the educational aspect, the new principal will instill within them the importance of hard work “no matter what it is they are doing.”
Possessing personal rules concerning his job as principal, Saturday believes in being early, working hard, and, “I will dedicate myself in what I do.”
By Jean Braithwaite
Tribune Correspondent
ELK GARDEN - After being connected to Elk Garden School for 39 years as a student, teacher, coach, and principal, Charles Keller will be retiring and leaving the small mountain top community.
Graduating from Elk Garden High School in 1964, he looks back on his student days and remembers his own principal, Frank Burgess.
“Mr. Burgess was a man, who although small in stature, was a man of great integrity and character,” Keller said. “He had quiet dignity that was pervasive in everything he said or did.”
Saying that there was no interest during his high school career to be “a teacher, much less a principal,” he pointed out, “When I did become a principal, I regret that I did not exhibit the same qualities as Mr. Burgess.”
Keller did state that throughout his years as principal, “I was associated and dealt with wonderful parents, students, and colleagues.”
On the same note, he stated, “I have also dealt with some parents and students who were not so wonderful, not necessarily terrible, but not as wonderful as I would have hoped.”
When Keller finishes his last day at Elk Garden Primary School, around June 15, he said, “All the good things, all the bad things, all the good people, and all the less-than- good people - I will miss them all.”
Speaking about a motto that Keller has held for numerous years and will continue to embrace in his retirement, he said, “I am certain that, no matter how badly life may be treating me, things could be worse.”
Moving back to his home in York, Pa., and after 43 straight years of employment, he does not want to “stop cold turkey and do nothing.”
With ideas to work part-time as a tutor or tax preparer, Keller said, “I want to ease into retirement.”
Mentioning a great-nephew who is just finishing the first grade in Baltimore County and showing an interest in sports, he said, “I will be attending as many of his athletic events as I can.”
Interested in traveling, both within the United States and abroad, Keller will in the near future journey to Australia and New Zealand.
Wanting to share some advice with Michael Saturday, his replacement as principal at Elk Garden, Keller said, “Know and understand the culture of the people in the mountain top communities.”
Adding more to the recommendation for Saturday, he stated, “The values and ideals subscribed to by our local parents may be different from those you have experienced before, but embrace the cultural differences and you will be successful.”
Keller said when leaving the Elk Garden area, “My roots are here, and no matter where I go or what I do, my heart will always be here.”
Saturday, presently a vice principal at Keyser High School, will take over the leadership of Elk Garden Primary in early August.
Saying that he anticipates no major adjustments when arriving in Elk Garden, he stated, “I was an elementary principal a few years ago at a school similar in size.”
Continuing with thoughts on the difference from being in charge of high school students to a younger set of students, Saturday said, “Change keeps us from becoming stagnant.”
When his tenure at Elk Garden Primary begins, he has several expectations from staff members, including “hard work, cooperation, dedication, enthusiasm for the profession, and a love of the children.”
“The staff can expect the same things from me, and I believe in being a mentor principal,” Saturday said.
With the Elk Garden students in mind dealing with the educational aspect, the new principal will instill within them the importance of hard work “no matter what it is they are doing.”
Possessing personal rules concerning his job as principal, Saturday believes in being early, working hard, and, “I will dedicate myself in what I do.”
