BARB BLANCHARD SAYS GOODBYE

Barbara Blanchard remembers well the first day she came to Washington Elementary School. A tiny 7-year-old stood on the front steps of the school holding tight to her mother's hand.

With her stood principal Raymond Sheets and first-grade teacher Mary Wilson. They were deciding if young Barbara would be allowed to enroll. She had missed the first 15 days of school with chicken pox. Sheets wasn't sure this little girl could catch up with her classmates.

Mary Wilson considered the serious child looking up at her. Barbara remembers her words: "I'll give her a try."

Some 50 years later, Barbara Blanchard serves as principal of that same elementary school. At age 58, she is ending 36 years in education this spring, but Blanchard isn't retiring.

"I'm changing directions in my life," she said. Like so many decisions, Blanchard is turning over leadership of Washington because she felt it was best for the school.

Cape Girardeau voters approved funding for a new elementary school. Washington is slated to close at the end of next school year. And much of next year will be spent planning how the new school will operate.

Since Blanchard couldn't commit to five more years of service, she didn't think it was fair to the planning for a new building. Frank Ellis will be the new principal.

Blanchard said: "I would know everything about that new school from the ground up and then leave. That's not right."

Trying to do what is right has been a guiding force in Blanchard's life. She credits much of her development to time spent inside Washington as a child and the people she met there.

"The most influence in my life happened right in this building," she said.

Blanchard attended Washington through the eighth grade. Of her 36-year teaching career, all but five have been at Washington. She taught first, fourth, fifth and sixth grade before being named principal.

Blanchard remembers the moment she decided to become a teacher. She was in that same first-grade classroom. Mrs. Wilson was at the blackboard and one of the students did something commendable.

"She drew a big star up on the blackboard," Blanchard said. "And I thought how exciting that was to be able make such an impact on that child. I knew that's what I wanted to do."

She looks at each child and then consults her "box of keys" searching for the one that opens the world of learning for that child.

"Sometimes you have to try a lot of keys to find the one that fits," she said. "My mission is in this neighborhood. I want to give back what was given to me in this building. I know where these kids and these parents are coming from. I was, I still am one of them."

Blanchard is known for her ability to diffuse a situation, especially when parents are unhappy.

Brenda Dohogne, a Washington parent, was at school one morning when an unhappy parent was yelling in the hallway. "Barb happened by at that moment and invited the parent into her office," Dohogne said. "I don't know what Barb said, but a few minutes later the lady came out. She was calm and thanked Barb."

Lorna Mueller teaches fourth grade at Washington and has worked with Blanchard 23 years.

"She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met," Mueller said. "She is empathetic and sympathetic and able to relate beautifully with children and parents."

"You always know where you stand with her," Mueller said. "She says what she means. And she remains perfectly calm."

Blanchard knows each child in the building by name.

Mueller said a boy in her class writes notes daily to Blanchard telling her how much she will be missed.

Darla Snider, third-grade teacher, explained that Blanchard's students keep in touch long after they leave Washington. "She is always telling me that she got a letter or note from one of her students," Snider said. "She continues to have an impact long after the children are gone."

Blanchard isn't satisfied with just doing the job, Snider said. "She has gone far beyond what a principal must do. When there is a need, she finds a way to help."

Snider said if the situation warrants, Blanchard has spent time educating parents so they could better help the child.

"She has brought so many things to this school. It is a better school and a better community because of her," Snider said.

Dr. Richard Bollwerk, assistant superintendent, agrees. Not only is Washington better off for Blanchard's involvement, he personally has benefited.

"I wouldn't be at the central office if it hadn't been for her encouragement," he said.

Bollwerk, who was principal at Washington before Blanchard, had worked in the district just two years when Vince Raddle retired at the central office. "I hadn't put my name in for consideration. I didn't think I'd been in the district long enough," Bollwerk said.

On the day applications closed, Blanchard cornered him in the hallway at Washington. She said, "Richard Bollwerk If you don't do this you're going to disappoint me terribly." On his way home Bollwerk stopped at the board office and added his name for consideration.

A year later, Bollwerk encouraged her to take the principalship at Washington. "She is a natural leader and has a deep love for children," he said.

Blanchard had earned a principal's certificate many years earlier, but never thought she would use it. In 1992, when Bollwerk moved to the central office, Washington was leaderless. Blanchard stepped in to help her school. Then parents and teachers and others convinced her that she should stay in the principal's chair.

"I don't like the idea of the principal's office being a negative place," she said. "I try to do things in a positive way."

Blanchard said people are often fooled by her quiet, calm demeanor into thinking she is a pushover.

"I am not a pushover. I am very firm, but I never shout."