Graves excited about being Goessel principal
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
"I grew up in a small school. I like the small school environment, and I like the hometown atmosphere that surrounds the smaller schools," said the newly hired seventh through twelfth grade principal, Curt Graves.
Commuting to the Sterling area is about one hour, so the Graves are putting their house in Sterling on the market and would like to move sometime this summer, if the best laid plans work out.
Graves' wife, Valerie, will commute if necessary to Sterling until employment in this area is found.
"We feel strongly that the principal should live in the school community, so Val will commute for a while," Graves said.
She works at Sterling College as the office manager in the administration department.
"I am an energetic person," said Graves. "I am teaching science and PE and coached junior high volleyball, junior high boys' basketball and junior high boys' track this school year. We love the outdoors and enjoy hunting and fishing."
Will Graves be satisfied in the administrative role and not a teaching position?
"My responsibilities will be different, and schools have a lot of needs. I look forward to challenging the students and teachers to meet the needs head on and move forward. I expect my plate will be pretty full being a principal for six grades," he said.
Graves graduated from Pawnee Heights High School in Burdette with 16 seniors in his graduating class. He went to Tabor College and transferred to Sterling College, where he played basketball, and graduated in 1994 with a degree in physical education and health education with an endorsement to teach science. He has been teaching for nine and a half years and coaching something during that time.
On Monday, his diploma arrived from Friends University for a degree in master of school leadership and administration.
Goessel has a wonderful reputation among personnel in area schools. Graves said that the excellence that follows the Goessel students is superb. Academically, Goessel regularly exceeds the norm in assessment tests. Not just academically, but musically, athletically, and in many different activities.
"Big schools have some advantages which allow students to specialize. But I grew up in the small town environment, and I know that the reputation that follows Goessel students grows from a quality community. I expect good students at Goessel and look forward to being principal there," Graves said.
When asked what he would miss most about leaving the classroom, he commented, "I just received a three page essay a former student wrote about role models. He mentioned that I was his role model. The relationship that a teacher and coach can build with students is long lasting. I hope I can still build meaningful relationships with many students, but I realize it will not happen in the classroom setting."
Graves is scheduled to be on duty in July.
