Willow Avenue Elementary School has only known one principal – Greg Schmalz. He’ll be retiring at the end of this year after a 31-year career as an educator and administrator.
“It’s very bittersweet for me to ever think about stepping away from the school I was able to establish with the staff,” said Schmalz, who said he’s stepping away to spend more time with his family. “I’m really proud of all the things we’ve accomplished as a staff to establish Willow in 2003.”
Schmalz started his career, in 1988, as an adaptive physical education teacher at Dutchess County BOCES, but 10 years later switched gears to become an administrator. He was hired in the summer of 1998 as assistant principal at Cornwall Elementary School.
He worked there four years until he was assigned his new role as principal of Willow Avenue Elementary School.
In 2003, the Cornwall Central School District was making the transition to the new high school. Willow Avenue, which had served as the middle school, was to become the district’s third elementary school while fifth through eighth grade students made their new home at the old high school.
That summer, Schmalz observed the conversion of the 1973 wing from the open classroom concept to self-contained classrooms. Staff members had to move furniture using their personal vehicles just days before the first day of school. The two kindergarten classes met in modular buildings, behind the school, that first year.
“It was a very busy time, but we were very excited to make a move and create a new elementary school,” said Schmalz.
Taking the focus off himself, Schmalz credits his dedicated staff for the school’s success during his tenure, as well as for providing a positive experience for the children. After nearly a dozen years, the school received a Blue Ribbon nomination.
“To get that nomination was something very special to the staff,” Schmalz said. “We have a lot of outstanding educators all working together and that makes a great school.”
Schmalz always knew he wanted to work with children, but it wasn’t until he started college that he realized he wanted to pursue a career in education. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland. He then went on to obtain his Masters in Elementary Education and certificate of advanced study in education administration from SUNY New Paltz.
As a physical education teacher, Schmalz thought his organizational and managerial experience lent itself to a role as an administrator. He wanted to have a greater impact on the students and thought being the head of a school allowed him to achieve that goal.
Looking back on the last three decades, Schmalz said it’s difficult to quantify whether he preferred being an educator or administrator.
“I enjoyed it all,” he said.
Despite having an office, rather than a classroom, Schmalz worked closely with the kids whenever he could. As principal he would join classes at Black Rock Forest or Donahue Memorial Park, where the students would conduct experiments along the river. He even attended trips to the Pocono Environmental Education Center.
Although it still feels like yesterday when Schmalz was on the school’s front steps for the ribbon-cutting, he said it will be difficult to not be engaged with the students.
“It’s hard to think about stepping away after all these years.”
