Early first period I went down to Mrs. Beth Bradley’s office for an interview. She wasn’t in her office, so her secretary paged her on a walkie-talkie to meet me. I waited a few minutes and she came in with the amazing presence that she always had; the way about her that can make anyone in a gloomy mood smile. She recognized me from the year before, when she had been my math teacher. We chatted for a few minutes about how we had been. Then I started the interview.

“How long have you been teaching? At LHS?”

“Well, since ’89, so that’s about 15 years, 5 of which have been at LHS. This is my 6th year here, and first as an assistant principal.”

“What subjects have you taught?”

“Only math at LHS, at other schools I taught writing and an art class kind of as a side thing.”

”Do you enjoy teaching and being an assistant principal equally?”

“They’re so different, that’s hard to answer, but I’m definitely enjoying being an assistant principal.”

“Is one field more challenging than the other?”

“I guess, I’d say right now being an assistant principal because I’m new at it.”

“How do you think being an assistant principal has changed since you were in school?”

“There are a lot more legal issues to deal with now.”

“Is LHS a difficult school to be an assistant principal at? If so, why?”

“(Chuckling) I don’t know, because I’ve never been one anywhere else.”

“Will you continue to be an assistant principal or go back to teaching next year? Why?”

“I’ll stay an assistant principal for the foreseeable future.”

“Do you enjoy the student, and staff environment of LHS?”

“YES! LHS has everything.”

“What’s your favorite part about being an assistant principal? About being a teacher?

Being a teacher you work with kids, being an assistant principal you work with kids and teachers. In both jobs you work with parents. So, both jobs are really neat because of that.”

“What is one thing you dislike about each?”

“Teaching: Kids who don’t do their homework. Being an assistant principal: I hardly have time to eat lunch.”

Mrs. Bradley is very excited about her new job and is eager to get more experience in the field. I hope everyone gets a chance to meet her, because she is a very kind and welcoming person.