Behind every great school is an amazing principal and there is a saying that reads: “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
This applies to Amy Waggoner, Marshall County High School principal of eight years, who recently retired on Oct. 1.
In her 32 years in education, Waggoner has touched the lives of countless students, from her years as a teacher at Jonathon Elementary, to Benton Middle School and over the last nine years at Marshall County High School, one year as an assistant principal and last eight as principal.
“In this day and time, for a principal to stay at a school of that size for as long as she did, was remarkable,” Superintendent Trent Lovett said. “I don’t think people really understand the magnitude of that job.”
Lovett added that the staff knew she had their back and she brought a motherly type of love to the kids.
“She had a side to her where she could be the firm disciplinarian but she really had a soft spot too for the kids,” Lovett said. “That’s so important with kids today especially. I don’t think there’s any doubt the kids knew she cared about them.”
Marshall County High School assistant principal and current interim principal, Patricia Greer, said it was special that she was a graduate of Marshall County High School and has been in the Marshall County school system the majority of her life.
“Whether it’s attending or working … she’s worked at the elementary level, middle school level and high school level,” Greer said. “You don’t see that much anymore, but Amy Waggoner did that.”
Greer added that she’s attended everything and there’s probably not a group in the school that can say Waggoner never once attended one of their events. She went on to add that Waggoner is very student-centered, telling her once: “These are kids and kids make mistakes, and it’s not just our job to catch them, it’s our job to support them and help them get past mistakes.”
Greer said students come through Waggoner’s office and it’s not always about what they’ve done wrong but emphasizing their strengths. She would build students up and those students knew that she cared about them.
“She is a great listener,” Greer said. “People come in here every day and I would hear the door shut, then the other door shut, and there were tears and laughter and she was the first person that knew about all kinds of things going on, because they knew she would listen to them and that she cared about them.”
Her caring and compassionate side never interfered with her duties as principal, wanting to see Marshall County High School excel in all areas.
“Whatever the issues were, she met them head on … she wanted to handle it,” Lovett said. “She was in charge of that school and was not afraid to make the tough phone call or whatever the case.”
Greer said she was a principal that allowed her assistant principals to learn and to be leaders.
“She never micro-managed anything we did,” Greer added. “We were given the ability to grow. If a leader can make leaders, that’s the best kind of leader and Amy did that. She did that with teachers, she did that with coaches … she put thought into it and did it because she thought that’s what was best for our school.”
Greer said that there was a comfort and a strength to staff members and students because of the many years they have known her and in many cases, her staff members are also dear friends.
“She’s always behind you, always supports you no matter what it is,” friend and co-worker Dondra Hackney said. “She is very caring. Amy is one of those friends that is always there for you and you can trust her.”
Friend and faculty member Kelly Chumbler added that it is sometimes a hard combination for a good friend to be your boss, but that never held true for her relationship with Waggoner.
“I enjoyed having her as my boss and although sometimes we might not have always agreed, I respected the role she played and saw it from the administrator’s side,” Chumbler said. “Mrs. Waggoner was always willing to add a little spice to the school, whether it was to motivate the students or inspire the faculty, I know we all appreciated that in her.”
Lovett said that Waggoner will be missed and wanted to go out under the radar saying, “I think all of us are that way to an extent in education. You don’t want the fanfare and she was that way.”
Greer said about Waggoner that she is very much the essence of the Spirit of Marshall County and that Marshall County Schools and the community, were very important to her.
“I definitely miss not seeing her in the office, but I am thrilled she has decided to enjoy life and family a little more … she deserves it,” Chumbler said. “She was a wonderful leader who instilled trust, kindness, compassion and spirit into MCHS. She will be sorely missed. Knowing Amy, there is no telling what the next chapter of her life will bring.”
In Waggoner’s own words recently to Marshall County Daily: “Teaching is a calling. Teaching is not a job, education is not a job. It’s a calling. And I felt like I have been called in every position that I have been in, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. That’s going to be hard, leaving the people and leaving the students. That’s what really keeps you, keeps you grounded I think.”
