Schools
Principal Preparing for Life Outside School
Bruce DuBois, who began his career at Woodinville's Leota Junior High, retires as the school's principal this year. Next up: Repairing his vacation home.
When Bruce DuBois accepted a job as principal at Woodinville’s Leota Junior High School in 2006, he knew overseeing one of the highest-performing schools in the state was the final step in his career as an educator. Rolling up his sleeves, DuBois met with faculty and staff and formulated a five-year plan to further improve the grades of all students, but especially those in danger of slipping behind.
DuBois, who is retiring at the end of the school year, said he’s been pleased with the results of the resulting Pride Time initiative. DuBois spoke from his school office, pointing at a poster spelling out Pride’s acronym—positive attitude, respect, integrity, dependability and excellence. “It’s been a team project,” he said with a broad smile. “We’re seeing changes for lower-performing students, and any student who takes advantage of Pride will see their skills grow stronger.”
From research and his own studies, DuBois concluded that after-school study programs weren’t necessarily aiding comprehension.
Leota’s initiative was created in part from successful strategies implemented by noted educator Richard DuFour, who stressed the idea of learning rather than teaching by creating “professional learning communities.” DuBois and Leota staff, with that vision in mind, created a 20-minute session at the end of the school day where teachers reinforce what's been learned. A checklist makes sure students review the day's class notes, what to study for tests, what’s on their planners and what assignments and projects are due.
DuBois says the Pride Time initiative is one of his biggest accomplishments as an educator. Ironically and satisfyingly, his tenure at Leota actually wraps up a three-decade career that's come full circle. He started his career at Leota and after 10 years accepted a teaching position at Bothell High School. He was there for another 10 years before diving into administrative duties at Bothell’s Canyon Park Junior High.
DuBois, who grew up in Burien and earned his master’s from the University of Washington, has certainly witnessed and implemented his share of changes. “When I started, you only had your textbook and no curriculum guide. It was up to you. You had the freedom to create whatever you wanted. Today, expectations are higher for everyone—students and teachers.”
DuBois said his accomplishments, and those of his students, are ones that he will look fondly upon during his retirement.
“Retirement” is a relative word, of course, depending how those who’ve reach that stage in life define it. DuBois will only be 60 on the last day of school at the end of June, so he’ll have plenty of time for reminiscing. But don’t expect him to slow down too much. He’ll be trading his suit and tie for jeans and a work shirt, as the principal is a self-described do-it-yourselfer with a variety of projects in mind.
Top of the list for Dubois, who has lived in Kenmore for 36 years with his wife Judy, is his vacation home at Flowing Lake. The area is east of the city of Snohomish. “I have to take the roof off,” he said. “Put a new one on.”
Looking back, it's clear that education, and the Northshore School District, have played a central part in the DuBois family. Judy is a paraeducator at Skyview Junior High in Bothell. She’ll certainly be helping around the vacation home, DuBois said, but added she still has five more years until her own retirement. The couple’s youngest daughter, Traci Hetherington, is in her third year as a first-grade teacher at Woodinville’s Bear Creek Elementary. In October, she made Bruce and Judy grandparents for the first time. “That’s one of the things I’ll be able to do,” said DuBois. “Help out with the baby once in a while.” (Another daughter, Desiree DuBois Gale, lives in Virginia.)
So while DuBois looks to have plenty on his plate beginning in July, he’ll first have to let his staff, students and friends throw him a retirement party. “I don’t really want anything, but I know it will happen,” he said. “Part of me doesn’t like the hoopla.”
Too bad, Principal DuBois. Looks like you’ll be going out in style.