Parkway Central High Principal to Step Down

Parkway Central High Principal Tim Gannon sent an e-mail to parents announcing he will retire at the end of this school year. 

Gannon said the decision came after much thought. Gannon has been at Parkway Central since since 1976. He began as a teacher and has also been a coach and assistant principal at the school.

In the e-mail, Gannon says he plans to "keep his options open" for the future. He mentions finding ways to continue to contribute to the community and working on his golf game.

The full text of the e-mail is below:

Dear Parent, 

After much reflection, anguish and conversation with many people, I have decided to resign as Principal of Parkway Central High School at the end of the current school year. To say this was a difficult decision is a gross understatement, to say the least. My whole “grown-up” life has been at Central High, serving as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and now principal—and I cannot imagine a better situation for me. 

I came to Parkway in 1976 and have touched the lives of thousands of students and their families for parts of five decades—yes, five decades! I never thought I could be this old... Over those years I have met and worked with some wonderful people, and this community has inspired me in so many ways. You have always demanded the best possible educational opportunities from us, and we have tried to deliver. Even when we have disagreed, the focus has always been on those kids—your kids—and I am extremely grateful for the frequent chances to enrich their lives. 

I have no “real” plans for a retirement lifestyle, at this point. In fact, I need to define what that really means. I hope there are some contributions I can make to this community, even though I won’t be in this position as educational leader. I would also like to learn how to keep golf balls in something called, “the fairway,” which, I’m told, exists in the real world. Beyond that—at least at this point—I intend to keep my options open, as they say...

Trust me when I say that it has been a true honor to serve the people of Parkway—and especially Central High. I will miss you all FAR more than you will miss me. 

Sincerely, 

Tim Gannon