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Bob Kuklis Is Back To Doing Just One Job Again

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

It's not that Assistant Superintendent of Schools Robert Kuklis hasn't enjoyed

being acting principal of Middle Gate Elementary School. He has.

Ever since the end of August, when former Middle Gate Principal Bill Bircher

left to become principal at Head O' Meadow, Dr Kuklis has thoroughly enjoyed

his time as principal.

"I've been learning from the inside," he said recently, about what problems

and opportunities elementary school principals face every day.

"It's been like holding up a mirror to what really happens. Now I'll be able

to be more supportive and helpful," he added.

His only complaint with his temporary dual position as assistant

superintendent and elementary principal, was that "it makes you feel very

incomplete."

"I worked at 70 percent capacity as a principal and at 60 percent as an

assistant superintendent," Dr Kuklis figured, adding that not only was he

unable to give 100 percent to either job, "130 percent at any job gets to be

wearing after a certain length of time."

But Dr Kuklis said he's been extremely grateful to the Middle Gate staff,

which has "been wonderful." And he says he has gained a new perspective on the

differences between elementary schools and middle or high schools.

"These teachers are with the same children all day long. They know them so

well," Dr Kuklis said.

He said also there was a special level of sensitivity, a certain climate that

was special to elementary schools, where "everything you do or say may be very

important to fragile young children."

"When I miss it, I'll just get in my car and come over for a visit," Dr Kuklis

said.

He admitted he's looking forward to becoming involved again with middle and

high school students - something he'd always done in the past, he said, by

"going into the buildings to see what was going on."

Superintendent John Reed is very pleased about the timely hiring of Gary Hexom

as Middle Gate principal, enabling Dr Kuklis to return to his former full-

time position in the central office.

"It was difficult [for him] to do both jobs. There's a long list of things

he's looking forward to following up on," Dr Reed said.

"We've got plenty to do," was the way Dr Kuklis put it.