Principal helped students laugh and learn
The Ark Valley News
by CHRIS STRUNK
Bruce Anspaugh has been a cow, a skydiver, a clown, a crusty farmer and a pretty good dancer.
Now, he’ll add former principal to his cast of characters.
Anspaugh, who has been making education fun at West Elementary School in Valley Center for nearly 20 years, announced his retirement this week. He will step down Dec. 31.
“I will really miss the kids,” Anspaugh said. “They’re just a lot of fun. We have a lot of fun together. We do a lot of dumb things.”
Like the chicken dance in the lunchroom on Fridays.
Anspaugh said creating a fun environment — like the year he made a tandem skydive onto the school playground because his students did well on a reading program — helps kids learn. It’s good for him, too.
“It helps me develop relationships of respect, compassion and trust,” he said. “Kids mind well, but they also know that I sure stick up for them no matter what.”
Anspaugh’s job hasn’t always been fun and games, however. He helped guide a school-wide initiative to improve state test scores. Last year, West achieved standards of excellence on state reading and math assessments.
“It’s a challenge, but that’s why you’re here,” Anspaugh said. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the kids. We don’t build schools for adults.”
Anspaugh, 65, grew up in northcentral Kansas and went to Kansas State and Fort Hays State, where he earned his education degrees. He taught elementary school in Goodland and Liberal and was a principal in western Kansas and northern Minnesotate before coming to West in 1989.
In retirement, Anspaugh said he plans to spend more time on his farm and with his and his wife’s photography business.
The district has hired an interim principal at West for the second half of the school year. Carol Hadorn is a retired elementary principal from Wellington.
A search process is under way for Anspaugh’s permanent replacement. Superintendent Scott Springston said he plans to meet with staff and parent representatives to develop a list of attributes the district wants in a principal before the formal interviews begin.
This school year started with two new principals (at Abilene Elementary and the middle school) and three new assistant principals (one at the middle school and two at the high school).
“I will really miss the kids,” Anspaugh said. “They’re just a lot of fun. We have a lot of fun together. We do a lot of dumb things.”
Like the chicken dance in the lunchroom on Fridays.
Anspaugh said creating a fun environment — like the year he made a tandem skydive onto the school playground because his students did well on a reading program — helps kids learn. It’s good for him, too.
“It helps me develop relationships of respect, compassion and trust,” he said. “Kids mind well, but they also know that I sure stick up for them no matter what.”
Anspaugh’s job hasn’t always been fun and games, however. He helped guide a school-wide initiative to improve state test scores. Last year, West achieved standards of excellence on state reading and math assessments.
“It’s a challenge, but that’s why you’re here,” Anspaugh said. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the kids. We don’t build schools for adults.”
Anspaugh, 65, grew up in northcentral Kansas and went to Kansas State and Fort Hays State, where he earned his education degrees. He taught elementary school in Goodland and Liberal and was a principal in western Kansas and northern Minnesotate before coming to West in 1989.
In retirement, Anspaugh said he plans to spend more time on his farm and with his and his wife’s photography business.
The district has hired an interim principal at West for the second half of the school year. Carol Hadorn is a retired elementary principal from Wellington.
A search process is under way for Anspaugh’s permanent replacement. Superintendent Scott Springston said he plans to meet with staff and parent representatives to develop a list of attributes the district wants in a principal before the formal interviews begin.
This school year started with two new principals (at Abilene Elementary and the middle school) and three new assistant principals (one at the middle school and two at the high school).
