Current principal looks at his school, which is feting its 40th anniversary
Forty years ago, Lloyd Newbaker was at the helm when Bear Tavern School opened.
Today, Richard Scheetz, who is feting 40 years as an educator and 16 years at Bear Tavern, is principal but he credits Dr. Newbaker with laying the foundation upon which the school still stands.
What was it like to be at a new school 40 years ago? "I had a special opportunity that doesn’t happen very often," Dr. Newbaker, the school’s first principal, said recently.
(Dr. Newbaker’s first observations about Bear Tavern appeared on Page 3A of the March 14 HVN.)
"I had the opportunity to establish a tone that was appreciated by both the parents and the students. I tried to follow the curriculum and yet make it a more flexible and instructional program, geared to the learning abilities of the children. I did things that seemed a little radical at the time, like inviting the parents in to get involved. When the parents are at the school they can see the things that are being done so well by the students and the staff. I feel that from the beginning I set the tone that carries on today with parental involvement and the high expectations that the parents have for Bear Tavern School and its students. It was a good place for learning," Dr. Newbaker added.
One of Dr. Newbaker’s proudest accomplishments was the rapport he established with the children and teachers. "It was always a stigma to be called to come down to the principal’s office," he said. "So, I often asked students to come to see me in order to share an accomplishment and to receive some praise."
Dr. Newbaker didn’t want the children to see him as solely a disciplinarian who was to be feared. "I knew the kids and they knew me. I set a standard of fairness and integrity with the children and the teachers. I was always frank and open with the teachers and the parents. That was my imprint on Bear Tavern School," he said.
Prior to Mr. Scheetz, others have carried on what Dr. Newbaker began. They were: Paul Van Fleet, Richard Booz, Dr. Frank Spera, Ed Gola (who later became superintendent) and Jeffery Corelli (who is currently a vice principal at Hopewell Valley Central High School).
Sixteen years ago, Mr. Scheetz stepped into the role of principal and since then has added to Bear Tavern’s tradition of learning the importance of being involved with the community through volunteerism.
Is the role of principal different now than it was 40 years ago? "I think the role of principal now is not unlike that of a conductor of an orchestra," Mr. Scheetz said.
"You have a variety of instruments, and looking at that kind of analogy, you have a variety of different children with different needs, a variety of different families with different needs, and a variety of individual staff teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians and secretaries-and all the people that make this run as a smooth organization doing its best to promote successful children," he said.
"However, our first call is to educate the child that’s our primary function." Mr. Scheetz also feels that it is important for principals to be more visible now than they were in the past. He makes a point of "peeking in" the classrooms on a regular basis. It’s a highlight of his job. "Personally, it’s a joy, because I enjoy watching a great staff interact with great kids and I enjoy watching the whole process unfold," he said. "It ‘s renewing for me, and encouraging for me just to watch it and then to periodically offer comments to the staff about what they are doing."
As for his thoughts on Bear Tavern’s 40th anniversary, Mr. Scheetz chose to reflect on Dr. Newbaker’s accomplishments. "It’s still there," he said. "The tone hasn’t changed. In other words, from the very beginning this has been the school that really focused on getting and keeping the community involved and has been a community school. This school always has been the community for our parents and our families and our kids. But Dr. Newbaker started that, and given 40 years of that kind of foundation, I’d like to see it continue and grow," he said.
"We have truly exceptional children, and a truly exceptional staff. It’s a neat place to be, as an adult as well as a kid!" Forty years ago, Dr. Newbaker looked up from inside the principal’s office and saw the sky. Today, Mr. Scheetz stands in the principal’s office helping the children of Bear Tavern reach for the stars.
Marlene Alpern, Bear Tavern parent