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Pioneer Principal Rokicki Quits, Cites Frustrations

Pioneer Principal Rokicki Quits, Cites Frustrations image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
February
Year
1971
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

Pioneer High Principal Theodore Rokicki today announced his resignation as principal, to become effective after the present school year. He has been with the Ann Arbor Schools for 13 years with the last six as an administrator. "Prior to winter vacation I conferred iwith Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. on my decisión to explore opportunities outside the district. My years in this school system have brought me in contact with Ithousands of thoüghtful and enthusiastic Istudents; dedicated and talented teachers and administrators and many sup[portive citizens and parents," Rokicki Isaid. "Ho wever, the last four years in particular have taken a heavy toll on my Ifamily and me. And although there have X - ■ been satisfying moments of achievement there have been just as many situations fraught with frustrations," the principal said. Rokicki, who was appointed assistant principal at Pioneer in 1967 and became principal in July 1968, said the millage and bonding defeats, curriculum cutbacks, split shifts because of overcrowded conditions, and student unrest and cronfrontations "all have had a profound effect on the living pattern of my family." "I have concluded that I no longer want to serve this community as principal of Pioneer High in the coming school year. I further request that I be granted a leave of absence of a minimum of two years with the option to extend this privilege if agreed by the superintendent and Board of Education." "The granting of this request will afford me the opportunity to accept the principalship in a smaller high school in a different part of the country. I have been assured by the official of thé , Wellesly, Mass., Public Schools that they are receptive to my approaches to secondary education," he said. "My early decisión to leave Pioneer' will not alter my continuing commitmentto work for the remainder of the semester toward the goals I expressed to our student body in February 1970," ! he said. "Nor will it curtail my enthusiasm for our new program, 'Humaneness in Education' or for the necessary planning connected with the 197071 school year." Supt. Westerman said in a statement: "Mr. Rokicki has served the school district with distinction for 13 years. He is a man of exceptional ability and dedication. His leadership has been of the highest order despite the handicaps and frustrations o f restricted financial resources. "The judgment made last spring by the North Central Association that Pioneer is one of the truly great high schools in the country testifies to Mr. Rokicki's ability to enhance a school's reputation in a time of national turmoil. It will be a major challenge to find a proper successor." Rokicki received a bachelor's degree at Purdue University, a master's at the University of Michigan and did postgraduate work in counseling and guidance at the UniversjtHe alsn tancrht special education classes in Toledo, Ohio, before joining the staff at Slauson Junior High School in 1958. From 1960-65 Rokicki was class adviser at Forsythe and became administrative assistant to the superintendent until he became assistant principal at Pioneer. Pioneer High students were told at noon today of Rokicki's decisión and his letter of resignation was submitted to Board of Education members with this week's agenda. Rokicki and his wife and two children live at 2430 Powell. Rokicki was the second top school administrator to announce his resignation in recent weeks. School Supt. Westerman will leave his post at the end of the school year.