Education
Popular principal prepares for his next chapter
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| Glenoaks Elementary School Principal Bob Modrzejewski talks last week about his upcoming retirement. (Tammy Abbott/News-Press) |
Glenoaks’ Bob Modrzejewski will retire at the end of the school year after 38 years in education.
By Angela Hokanson
When the PTA at Glenoaks Elementary School set a membership goal of 100% this fall, Principal Bob Modrzejewski stepped in with an incentive to encourage families to join the organization.
If the PTA hit its goal by a given date, Modrzejewski promised to dye his hair Glenoaks green — one of the school’s colors.
The prospect of a principal with green hair — if only temporarily green — prompted students to encourage their parents to become PTA members, said Jaimi Zwerling-Jeffrey, the school’s PTA president. And the school exceeded its goal of one PTA member per student enrolled.
“I don’t think it would have happened had he not said he was going to dye his hair green,” Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
The kid-friendly incentive is just one example of how Modrzejewski fostered a community of parents, students and teachers during his time as principal, Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
“It’s also very symbolic of how he was as a principal. He brought us together,” she said.
Modrzejewski will retire at the end of the school year, after six years at the helm as principal of Glenoaks, and 38 years as an educator in school districts in Northern and Southern California.
He started his career as a high school teacher in Northern California, teaching history, English and government for about 15 years before switching to administration. He moved to Southern California 12 years ago and worked as the principal of an elementary school in Thousand Oaks before coming to the Glendale Unified School District.
The students bring a vibrancy to life that will stay with him when he leaves, Modrzejewski said.
“I still enjoy what I do. I still enjoy the kids,” Modrzejewski said.
The school of more than 600 students will be losing a friendly, caring leader who always made time to discuss problems and who took others’ ideas seriously, parents and staff said.
“I think that he just has a way of showing kindness and respect for all his teachers and the children,” said Pennie Barnes, who teaches fifth grade and acts as the assistant to the principal.
Howard Martin, a special-education teacher who has been at Glenoaks for 19 years, praised Modrzejewski’s mellow nature and his ability to see the humor in everyday situations.
“You gotta have a little laughter every now and then,” Martin said.
Modrzejewski’s door has always been open to teachers who have concerns, Martin added.
He also has a knack for facilitating dialogue and cooperation, Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
A few years ago, the school’s parent groups — like the PTA and the school’s parent foundation — realized they weren’t on the same page when it came to their long-term goals.
They asked to hold some meetings to do strategic planning.
Modrzejewski wasn’t just supportive of these kind of meetings, he facilitated them and kept track of the ideas that were raised, Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
Modrzejewski isn’t sure exactly what retirement will look like, but he knows he’ll do some traveling and have more time to play sports and hang out with his grandchildren.
“I like to play golf and never seem to have time for that,” he said.
The school district hopes to fill the principal position by the end of the school year, said John Garcia, the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources.
Candidates with administrative credentials — such as assistant principals — typically move into principal positions, said school board vice president Mary Boger.
“We do always try to promote from within when we can,” Boger said.
ANGELA HOKANSON covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3238 or by e-mail at angelahokanson@latimes.com.
If the PTA hit its goal by a given date, Modrzejewski promised to dye his hair Glenoaks green — one of the school’s colors.
The prospect of a principal with green hair — if only temporarily green — prompted students to encourage their parents to become PTA members, said Jaimi Zwerling-Jeffrey, the school’s PTA president. And the school exceeded its goal of one PTA member per student enrolled.
“I don’t think it would have happened had he not said he was going to dye his hair green,” Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
The kid-friendly incentive is just one example of how Modrzejewski fostered a community of parents, students and teachers during his time as principal, Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
“It’s also very symbolic of how he was as a principal. He brought us together,” she said.
Modrzejewski will retire at the end of the school year, after six years at the helm as principal of Glenoaks, and 38 years as an educator in school districts in Northern and Southern California.
He started his career as a high school teacher in Northern California, teaching history, English and government for about 15 years before switching to administration. He moved to Southern California 12 years ago and worked as the principal of an elementary school in Thousand Oaks before coming to the Glendale Unified School District.
The students bring a vibrancy to life that will stay with him when he leaves, Modrzejewski said.
“I still enjoy what I do. I still enjoy the kids,” Modrzejewski said.
The school of more than 600 students will be losing a friendly, caring leader who always made time to discuss problems and who took others’ ideas seriously, parents and staff said.
“I think that he just has a way of showing kindness and respect for all his teachers and the children,” said Pennie Barnes, who teaches fifth grade and acts as the assistant to the principal.
Howard Martin, a special-education teacher who has been at Glenoaks for 19 years, praised Modrzejewski’s mellow nature and his ability to see the humor in everyday situations.
“You gotta have a little laughter every now and then,” Martin said.
Modrzejewski’s door has always been open to teachers who have concerns, Martin added.
He also has a knack for facilitating dialogue and cooperation, Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
A few years ago, the school’s parent groups — like the PTA and the school’s parent foundation — realized they weren’t on the same page when it came to their long-term goals.
They asked to hold some meetings to do strategic planning.
Modrzejewski wasn’t just supportive of these kind of meetings, he facilitated them and kept track of the ideas that were raised, Zwerling-Jeffrey said.
Modrzejewski isn’t sure exactly what retirement will look like, but he knows he’ll do some traveling and have more time to play sports and hang out with his grandchildren.
“I like to play golf and never seem to have time for that,” he said.
The school district hopes to fill the principal position by the end of the school year, said John Garcia, the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources.
Candidates with administrative credentials — such as assistant principals — typically move into principal positions, said school board vice president Mary Boger.
“We do always try to promote from within when we can,” Boger said.
ANGELA HOKANSON covers education. She may be reached at (818) 637-3238 or by e-mail at angelahokanson@latimes.com.
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