Mass Honors Outgoing Principal
Posted on: Friday, 9 May 2008, 00:00 CDT
By DAN SHAW, Courier & Press staff writer 464-7519 or shawd@courierpress.com
Among his many accomplishments during 26 years as principal of Memorial High School, Gerry Adams oversaw the building of a new wing and led the school to a national award.
On Sunday, Memorial held a special Mass in honor of Adams, who is retiring at the end of July. Deacon David Franklin, head of the school's religion department, told a large audience that the memory of Adams will remain with those who worked at his side.
"Gerry, without any exaggeration, you have been the very best principal I have worked for and continue to be one of the best men I have ever known in my entire life," Franklin said.
Adams came to Memorial in 1982 after teaching English and working as an assistant principal at other Indiana schools. One of his fondest memories is of a campaign conducted by Memorial and Mater Dei high schools. The Catholic schools raised about $11.5 million together in the late 1990s, money later spent to install air conditioning in both. At Memorial, it also paid for the construction of eight general classrooms, two science classrooms and an auxiliary gymnasium.
Another accomplishment of Adams' years was in 2001, when the U.S. Department of Education deemed Memorial High School a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. And Adams himself is one of six school leaders in the United States whom the National Catholic Education Association has honored for their lifetime of commitment to lay leadership in Catholic education.
Adams said sometimes he is asked what makes Memorial great.
"If you have teachers who are eager to come to school, and you have parents who support them, and you have students who want to learn - most of the time - you can't fail," he said.
Franklin said Adams always understood the important role religion plays in teaching.
"First of all, Gerry is a man of faith," Franklin said. "Anyone who knows this man recognizes that this celebration of the Eucharist is the most important, satisfying and meaningful of the many parts that will make up his retirement."
Adams was respected by the teachers who worked under him, Franklin said.
"He tries to remove burdens and time-consuming tasks so we can teach without interruptions and without busy work bogging us down," Franklin said. "On behalf of the teaching staff, I want to thank you for that."
Adams expected much from teachers, but he would show charity if they fell short.
"Sometimes he said 'no,' but it was never a 'no' with an attitude," Franklin said. "Gerry will give anyone who needs it a second chance, or a third chance - whatever it takes."
(c) 2008 Evansville Courier & Press. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: Evansville Courier & Press
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