 Denison, Texas  Denison Herald May 30, 1993 PRINCIPAL NOT SORRY HE CHOSE TEACHING The Denison School District will begin classes in August without an administrator who has 35 years invested in the system. Paul Jennings, principal at Golden Rule Elementary, is retiring. "My last day will be a typical day for me right up until 3:30," Jennings said. "I plan on being just as busy as usual. Jennings, a graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Austin College became interested in teaching while attending college. "Preachers are 'called' to preach, and I sort of felt 'called' to teach," he said. "I haven't been sorry." He attended Peabody Elementary and graduated from Denison High School in 1951, and he said he had always admired teachers. "Growing up, my heroes were always teachers," Jennings said. "They were the nicest people I knew, and everybody looked up to and respected them." Though he had held other jobs, he said none were as satisfying as teaching. As a child, he dusted furniture at the family furniture store to earn money for the 'picture show' and raised chickens to help support the war effort during World War II. Jennings also worked as brakeman for the M-K-T Railroad and other jobs throughout his adulthood. "Working at other jobs helps you appreciate your vocation," he said. "The experiences were all very beneficial and helped make me who I am today. I'm a better principal because of the experience I've had working with people." Being a good principal, Jennings said, requires a dedication to teaching. "All educators are first called to be teachers," he said. "I still look upon myself as a teacher, and I think teaching should be at the core of administrating." His current position came after teaching for a year in Buna and at both McDaniel and Hughes Junior High Schools. He served as assistant principal of McDaniel and of Hughes before becoming the principal at McDaniel until its closure in 1986. He then returned to B. McDaniel Middle School for 2 years before moving to Golden Rule. He and his wife, Carol Hall Jennings, have 3 children, David, a media producer and director at Sugar Land, Texas; John Mark, in Alexandria, Virginia with the United States Tax Court; and Joy Renfro, an advertising account executive in Tulsa. Though he has no definite plans for after retirement, he does intent to keep active. "I don't intend to sit around and watch TV," Jennings said. Jennings and his wife direct an adult Sunday School class at First Baptist Church and sing in the choir. "We have always formed our lived around First Baptist, and our lives will continue to be formed around the church," he said. Besides being involved in the church, Jennings enjoys doing minor home repairs, 'tinkering' with his car, doing yard work and used to be an avid boater. Even though he loves his job, he said he is excited about retiring. "Teachers are always just as excited to see the end of the school year, so I probably won't think much about being retired until school starts again." Jennings said. Editor's Note After Mr. Jennings' retirement for DISD, he was Principal of St. Luke's Day School, Denison  Golden Rule School History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |