When the last bell rings on June 30 at Huntsville Public School (HPS), it won’t only mean the start of summer vacation; it will also mean a new chapter for principal Ross Jewiss.
It’s an idea he’s been tossing around for a couple years now and after spending 26 years in education, Jewiss has made the decision to retire.
“Last week I walked off the school yard, we had been doing a conga line and marching around, I had about 20 kids behind me, and realized I was sobbing because I don’t know what I’m going to do without the kids when I retire,” said Jewiss. “I have lots of interests and hobbies and I love my summers but I don’t know what I’m going to do without the busyness of the school and the kids.”
He wrote his retirement letter in November 2016, but didn’t hit send until January.
Jewiss first began his career in education in 1991 in Burk’s Falls as a teacher. After spending several years in a teaching position and stuck at a low salary he decided to give the administration side a shot.
“My past experience got me in the door,” said Jewiss, who received his Masters in Forestry.
Forestry was his first career choice out of high school, but he’d always loved playing with small motors growing up. Over the years he’d given both passions a try as a career. He was looking for something that would allow him to provide for his wife and three children and be home more often than he was away.
“I found as a private business person I was always working or looking for work,” said Jewiss. “So I decided I had to do something different.”
In 1998 his professional life got the boost he was searching for: Jewiss became a vice principal.
“I had no idea what I was getting into. A week into my first stint I realized it was the best professional decision of my life,” said Jewiss. “I have absolutely loved almost every minute of school administration. There are some difficult times for sure, but everyone has them. As a career I couldn’t ask for anything better. You have a positive effect on so many people’s lives. You’re touching hundreds of lives a day, whether it’s your colleagues or the children you’re working with. This is home away from home, for now, for 400-500 kids a day and we’re charged with looking after them.”
I often think of Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get — you don’t know who’s going to walk in the door every day. It’s kindergarten kids showing me they’ve learned to read, it’s parents that are having trouble with their intermediate student.
Jewiss wasn’t looking forward to transferring to HPS initially, given its reputation at the time. But after putting in seven years and watching the school come together it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
“I had done my time at an inner-town school. I walked in and I was so mad. But I had a choice, I could either come here or I could leave education,” said Jewiss.
A former principal of HPS told Jewiss she was glad he was there because it’s everything the school he was leaving isn’t.
”I’m proud of the work that we’ve done at HPS, in terms of raising the profile of the school and changing it to being positive. It was viewed in such a negative light for so long as an inner-town school,” said Jewiss. “The kids are proud of it.”
The school is so full that it can no longer accept students from out of its catchment area, unless they are entering the French Immersion program.
We still get a number of requests every year because the school has such a high profile and a good reputation. People want to bring their kids here if their kids are struggling elsewhere. The people here have just been amazing. I have so many friends. I brought my beliefs and my values to this school and we picked it up and we carried it. Then French Immersion came along.
He said it was almost seamless that HPS became a dual-track school, but not without challenges from parents upset the program was moving to HPS.
“I think they were expecting inner-town ghetto, like graffiti on the walls,” he said. “The school was so well looked after, and we were welcoming. I think the culture that we brought to the school, the reputation we brought to the school and the fact that this became a dual-track school where people want to come, has got to be one of the most professionally rewarding things I’ve done. Even though I was totally against it, I had no idea how good it was going to be. That’s partly the reason it’s so difficult to leave now. I could easily stay and have fun.”
Jewiss received the 2016 Impact Award of Excellence for demonstrating professional growth and innovative leadership skills.
“It’s about how you deal with your career on a daily basis, how you touch lives and make changes to make things better and support families in the school. That was quite an honour to receive,” he said. “There are lots of difficult days but it’s knowing that we’re supporting families and making kids’ lives better, knowing that you’re helping your colleagues with their professional problems and being able to celebrate that and still go to bed and sleep at night.”
For his first year of retirement Jewiss plans on taking it easy. He’s looking forward to having time to himself, time to travel and pursue his hobbies – small engine repair, boating, camping, hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing.
Knowing that he won’t be able to leave HPS completely, he will return here and there as a volunteer. Jewiss is also looking forward to volunteering his time elsewhere in the community.
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Congratulations Ross, and the people and students of HPS. I witnessed first-hand the environment raised up over the years, both as an in-classroom employee and most recently working directly with grade 6 to 8 english and french immersion students. Enjoy your next adventure, Ross.
Congratulations Ross on your retirement. Some of my fondest memories in education are from when I was the Proud Pricipal at HPS. The school with the big ❤️ Enjoy you retirement. ?