The end of school came up fast on me this year and I wasn't prepared emotionally. The trip to LA and Newton was a huge distraction. With that and a week of interviews, I felt I hardly spent time with my kids toward the end. And I didn't have time to face all the upcoming changes.
With the end of a school year always comes goodbyes. We say goodbye to the kids every year, I turn over half my caseload. But we also have staff leave. Seems like we've had more than our share this year. I already blogged about how I've come to accept change as inevitable and people coming in and out of my life. Last year Greg left. Overall, through it wasn't fun or easy, that change has been ok, positive, even. This year, we said goodbye to Marvin. I feel sad about this but also hopeful as God was faithful in answering our prayers for a great replacement for Assistant Principal. I am excited and hopeful about that. But I will truly miss Marvin.
Marvin is a unique person. He is hilarious. I will always remember how he greets me every day, truly happy to see me. He carries his emotions on his sleeve so you never have to guess how he is feeling. If he says something, you never believe him because regardless of the mood he is in or the circumstances, he is kidding. I have fallen for his jokes again and again. This week, he told me that his replacement, Dave, couldn't start until late fall due to contract problems. He got Angela and Tracy in on it. I believed them.
Marvin comes up to me every single day and puts something in my hand. Usually a piece of trash he's picked up off the floor. When Nancy and Greg left for a week, he and I ran the school. We had the most insane week ever, situations that neither of us had ever had to deal with before. We worked so well together. At one point when we were super stressed out and there late, Marvin came up and said very seriously, "well, I know what I need to do. I need to go to the bathroom."
After work, I would often stop by to say goodbye to Marvin on the way out. He always invited me to sit. Sometimes he'd ask me if I wanted a beer and he'd reach below his desk and open his fridge. Of course he never had beer but he'd be so convincing I'd think it every time even for a second. He had such great snacks and meals that Jolene made for him.
Marvin was great with kids and they love him. He did the same teasing with them. This week I was outside with him during lunch. First several girls came up and asked him if they could get a drink inside the building. He told them to go get water out of a spigot coming out of the wall. They believed him and went over there but there wasn't any way to turn it on. Then two girls came up and asked him if they could use the restroom. He told one yes and told the other she had to go all the way across the tennis court and ask Mr Newell. She looked at him and he was so serious that she didn't know what to do. There was a kiddo standing there and asked if he could go into the soccer game. Marvin said yes but he'd have to stretch first. He then led the kid in the most ridiculous series of stretches. The kid took him seriously and did every stretch even though they had nothing whatsoever to do with soccer, like arm circles. He also told me a story of telling a kid who was great at soccer that he needed to work on his skills and enlisting a kid with half the athleticism to give him tips. Unbelievable.
Marvin was so positive with kids and took every referral seriously. He spent time with every kid and got them to completely understand and take responsibility before he moved on. He was fair and consistent but made each decision uniquely so that it would be meaningful for the kids. He supported teachers and parents. He took the time to develop relationships with parents, even the most difficult ones and they trusted him. He took the time to really understand kids and the nuances of what made them behave the way they did. Marvin always supported the underdog. And he always made me feel listened to and supported and heard.
In meetings, Marvin was always the idea man. Maybe we could do this or that. Then he'd start devising a detailed plan of action. I will never forget the incredible hard work that Marvin put into Eagle Extravaganza. In the early days, it was a huge event that every kid came to and wanted to win. Every activity was planned to the detail. I remember during the night, coming in the office to ask him a question and he and about 5 guys would be in his office running stats on the teams. You'd have thought they were running the NFL draft with how serious it was. The tug of war brackets alone were a thing of beauty. Then Banana man would come with sound effects and smoke. Winning the bananathon in the packed out gym was such a huge honor. And then when the night was over, everyone would go to Bob's diner and eat a huge stack of pancakes.
I don't want to wrap his blog up because it feels like an era is ending. But it is. The Marvin Rupe era at Eisenhower. He has left such a huge impact on Eisenhower that will never be gone. He will always be a part of Eisenhower and I know that Eisenhower will always be a part of him. Love you, Marvin.
