Published: May 12, 2008 02:41 am            

Passing the torch

PISD Superintendent Mayo retires after 41 years as an educator

With a 41-year career in education almost behind him, retiring Palestine Independent School District Superintendent Jerry Mayo has a plethora of students, teachers, successes and memories to look back on.

And as with each transition he made in the district — from teacher to counselor, to principal to superintendent — his retirement has been a difficult decision, but one he feels both he and the district are ready for.

“I have gotten to know many people over these 40 years, and being superintendent these last eight years has been a wonderful experience for me,” Mayo said. “But I feel that it is my time to leave — time to enjoy my retirement while I have good years to do so.”

Mayo first came to Palestine in 1967 as a high school teacher. He was hired by then-principal L.L. Davis, a man Mayo said was very influential in his career decisions.

“My wife and I came here right after we got married, in August of 1967,” Mayo said. “I was a teacher and she was a secretary in the office.”

After a year, the couple left Palestine so that Sandra Mayo could complete her teaching degree at Angelo State University in San Angelo. Meanwhile, Mayo taught at the local school district while earning a master’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

The Mayos returned to Palestine in 1972, when an opening came up for a counselor at the high school.

“I enjoyed counseling as much as anything else I have done in education – guiding the students to their future choices,” Mayo said. “I had a great time doing that.”

After counseling for three years, Mayo was offered the chance to serve as principal at PISD’s Davy Crockett School, which housed over 600 eighth- and ninth-grade students.

“I was reluctant and a little apprehensive, but I did it,” he said. “Davy Crockett was a huge school, with wooden floors and no air conditioning — the wiring was so bad, it could not run window units and teachers were given boxes of fuses so they could replace then when they blew.

“It was not unusual to see a bat flying around, or a skunk walk up the steps and into the library,” he laughed. “It was interesting.”

Mayo also recalled helping police chase down a pair of burglars after finding them in his office.

“The alarm had gone off and I was the one who had to go check things out with the police,” he said. “When we caught the burglars, one jumped out the window and another ran out the front.

“The officer and I began chasing him, with myself in front of the officer,” he said. “The officer yelled for the man to halt, and when he did not, the officer fired.

“After seeing that red flash go past my ear, and my life flash before my eyes, I decided to give up crime fighting.”

His next role at PISD was as principal at the newly-constructed Palestine Middle School — a job he held for over 20 years.

“Middle school is a different world for kids and parents, and it takes a special person to work with that age group,” he said. “I always liked it, and I had a good staff to help me.”

For just a short time, Mayo served as high school principal before being offered the chance to become the district’s superintendent. That decision was one of the most difficult of his career, he said, mainly because he did not want to lose the interaction with students.

“Harold Gilbert, one of the first teachers I met when I came to Palestine, and board member Paul Woodard encouraged me to take that step,” Mayo said. “I feel so blessed that they gave me the opportunity to be superintendent.

“I got to enjoy students and teachers at all the campuses,” he added. “And I learned more about elementary education than I ever knew before.”

Mayo said he originally had planned to be superintendent for three years before retiring, but extended that stint to eight years at PISD. And now, in his final year, Mayo feels he has come full circle.

“I am also interim high school principal this year, which lets me be with students again before I retire,” he said. “If people see nothing else about my time here, I hope it is that I tried to educate and help the students — that I did what I enjoy doing most.”

While Mayo points to new facilities, academic and athletic successes and great strides in technology and curriculum as accomplishments to be proud of, the thing of which he is most proud of is the group of teachers and staff he has worked with over the years at PISD.

“I think that’s is the one thing I think this district has always had,” he said. “I don’t think a better staff than this one could be put together.”

As to its shining moments, seeing the district come together in times of tragedy have meant a lot to Mayo during his time at PISD. One of the most recent was in the fall of 2005 when thousands of Hurricane Rita victims were forced north and into Palestine seeking shelter from the storms.

“PISD’s high school and Story School sheltered over 800 hurricane evacuees,” Mayo said. “The students and staff came together, and there was such a great outpouring of aid for those people.

“The district was up to task to meet their needs,” he added. “It was a great experience, a humbling experience for myself and the district.”

Another tragedy in the district’s history came over 20 years ago, when a tornado destroyed Story School in 1987. Mayo, who was middle school principal at the time, says he will never forget the events of that Sunday afternoon.

“That storm caused the loss of several lives in this community,” Mayo said. “And if it had been on a school day, that loss would have been even greater.

“Even so, the loss of the school made an impact on the district,” he added. “Everyone pulled together and made it work — it is something to be proud of. It certainly turned into a shining moment for PISD.”

As to the not-so-shining moments, Mayo did not deny that they occurred, but stated that working out the problems that came up has never been something he ever dealt with alone.

“When huge issues come up we have to deal with them, and we have to work through them with the staff — with everyone involved,” he said. “That is not a job I could do alone — it takes a huge team effort, and without that team I wouldn’t have lasted very long.”

In looking to PISD’s future and making the transition to new superintendent Dr. Thomas Wallis, Mayo had a few words of wisdom to offer about leading the district.

“The best advice I can give is to surround yourself with good people and listen to their advice,” Mayo said. “Running a school district is a team operation, which I’m certain he knows.

“Make good decisions and be a good leader,” he added. “And spend as much time as possible hearing from the community and staff — give recognition where it is needed.”

After his retirement begins in July, Mayo plans to enjoy himself, he said.

“I may do some part-time education work,” he said. “And I’ll be spending a little more time than usual on the golf course. I’ll will be staying busy.”

Mayo and his wife, Sandra, who also is a retired educator, reside in Palestine.

“Sandra has been my driving force throughout my time here,” Mayo said. “She has put up with me through the good and the bad.”

The Mayos have two grown children — a daughter, Kimberly, her husband and their 9-year-old daughter, Bailey live in Grandbury; and a his son, Jason, and his wife live in Palestine.

————

Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.