May 23, 2001
Lakota principal retiring after 28 years
By Cathy Willoughby
Staff Writer
RISINGSUN -- She'll be leaving her post when "her children'' leave school for summer vacation.
"It will be wonderful because it will be the kids' last day as well,'' said Lakota Central Principal Ann Mickey. "I told my fourth graders that we will walk out together. It doesn't seem possible.''
When Mickey retires May 31, it will be at the conclusion of 28 years at the Lakota district.
"This is like my town and these are my babies,'' Mickey said. "It's hard to do that.''
Her decision to leave was prompted by the need "to do something different.'' "I would like to stay in education,'' Mickey said. "But it's time to let younger people come in and give it a shot at being a principal. I'm ready for a new stage, but I want to absolutely stay in education.''
Mickey would like to work with principals-in-training or student teachers. "That would let others learn from my experience, my expertise,'' Mickey said. "I would be happy to do something like that, to spend some time with beginning teachers and principals.''
Mickey said that several signs have emerged to let her know that it is time to retire.
"One student came up to me and asked how old I was,'' she said. When Mickey told her she was 55, the child responded, "You're older than my grandma.''
"I told her she was right, I'm as old as dirt,'' Mickey said with a laugh. "They are so cute.''
She has also noticed another phenomenon.
"For awhile now, I've seen that a number of my parents (had also been) my students,'' Mickey said. "That's another sign.''
She has spent 22 years in the Lakota district as a principal. The first five years were at Jackson Liberty, now known as Lakota East. The remaining 17 years have been at her home, Lakota Central.
"It's fitting that I started teaching here at Lakota Central, in the third grade,'' Mickey recalled. " I started and ended up at a wonderful place.''
She came in when corporal punishment was still the rule. "I started with a paddle hanging on the wall,'' Mickey said. "But I'm not a great believer in corporal punishment. It's important that kid's learn why they are doing something wrong.''
Another major change has been the shift of control from the district to the state. Changes in society have also expressed themselves in the school buildings.
"I've seen more children who are from single-parent homes or where both parents are working,'' she said. "There is a greater need for social instruction in the schools because the parents are busy or not there.''
Born and raised in Woodville, Mickey said she still has spent so much time in the Lakota district, it seems like home to her.
"What's interesting is that I've been in Lakota so long that all of my friends and acquaintances live in Lakota,'' she said. "I know more people here than in my hometown. So I think of the Lakota district as my place. Most of my social ties are here. There are wonderful people here.''
Mickey and her husband, Jim, enjoy spending time on Lake Erie.
"I'm a water person,'' she said. "Jim and I truly enjoy taking a ride on the lake and seeing the sunset. We are planning on spending a lot of time there.''
Catching up on her reading, caring for an aging parent and dabbling in artistic pursuits also will take up her time.
She is glad she entered the education profession, and recalled a professors comments.
"He said that if you don't get at least three good belly laughs a day in education, you shouldn't be in the business,'' Mickey said. "And I have gotten at least three every day in the many years I have been here.''
That same professor also said that he experienced unconditional love when he had a cold as a child.
"His uncle called him over and reached in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. After he was done, he took that soiled hanky and put it back in his pocket,'' she said.
''No matter if a child has a greasy face or a runny nose, I have always hugged and cared for them and let them know that they are loved,'' Mickey added. "It is absolutely imperative with kids nowadays that they have those feelings of acceptance.''