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After 15 years with Danville Independent Schools and 29 years in education, Chuck Stallard is retiring from his position as director of pupil personnel. (Stephanie Mojica/smojica@amnews.com / June 1, 2012) |
The principal position at Danville High School will become vacant at the end of June when current principal Ed McKinney moves to a position at the district’s central office.
McKinney will become director of pupil personnel when current director, Chuck Stallard, retires.
“If you are fortunate enough to know Ed, you also know that he has done an outstanding job in the various roles he has served for Danville schools,” said Superintendent Carmen Coleman. “From teacher and coach to assistant principal and now principal, Ed is about kids. He is an Admiral through and through and an absolute favorite of all who know him.”
Stallard will spend July showing McKinney the ropes of the pupil personnel position, which also includes serving as director of transportation, maintenance and facilities.
Stallard, 54, has held the position 12 of his 15 years with Danville Independent Schools. He taught agriculture for 11 years in Garrard County and spent three years as the Mercer County High School principal. Stallard is a Danville native who graduated from the city’s high school in 1975.
“I felt like it was time to enjoy my grandkids and close this chapter of my life,” Stallard said.
Stallard, a member of Calvary Baptist Church, plans to do some mission work with his church as well as enjoy more time hunting.
Though Stallard will not miss getting up early, he will miss the diverse ages of people with whom he works.
“I’ve had an opportunity to work with students, parents, staff and school board members,” Stallard said. “Really, I’ve dealt with all facets of the school in this position.”
People will definitely miss Stallard once he leaves the school system, Coleman said.
“Because he even attended school here as a student, he not only has tremendous pride in our district, but also has really good insights because of the time he's invested in our system and our community,” Coleman said. “Chuck is also 100 percent about kids. Every decision he makes is about what is going to best serve our students. Chuck wears many, many hats and is so dependable.”
McKinney, who has worked with Danville Independent Schools for 22 years, has taught every grade level. He said he will miss the daily interaction with Danville High faculty members and students as he steps into his new job.
“I think I'll miss the rhythm of the school day,” McKinney said. “I'll also miss seeing the growth a young kid makes from the time he or she arrives as a freshman and leaves as a graduate.”
Coleman and Danville High’s school council are seeking a new principal to fill McKinney’s role. They have posted the position and are in the process of determining whether to hire an interim principal because the start of the 2012-13 school year is fairly close or to fill the permanent position right away.
Whoever steps into McKinney’s role should be able to develop relationships with not only students and teachers, but also parents and members of the central office as well as the school board, McKinney said.
“Any new principal needs such an array of skills that it is difficult for any one person to have all of them,” McKinney said. “The key is to find someone who can play to his or her strengths and find great people to surround themselves with. The good news is that Danville High School has an unbelievable staff. He or she needs to ... be ready to adapt to ever-changing instructional demands. I think it is also important that a potential candidate loves kids and always puts what’s in the best interest of kids first.”
