ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997 TAG: 9702030036
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
On the office door, next to the "PRINCIPAL" sign attached low enough for fourth-grade eyes, a small yellow smiley-face sticker beams out into the rest of Belle Heth Elementary.
Behind that door, say those who work with him, sits a man just as friendly, open and laid-back as the smiling 1970s icon.
Gerry Glass has headed every elementary school in Radford during his 28-year tenure. Thursday, he announced this year will be his last.
"I'm about that age to do this," the 65-year-old said when asked why he decided to retire. He wants to travel, spend time with his granddaughter in Connecticut and play some golf.
And though he says he'll miss his quality staff and students, Priscilla Moore said the school will miss him more.
The guidance counselor has worked with Glass for much of his time in Radford. Of all the places she's worked, which includes several schools out of state, he has been her favorite.
"If you have a problem, he listens regardless of what it is," she said. "He's very interested in any idea I have. He'll say 'That sounds like it'll make school more interesting for kids, let's do it.'"
Glass "cuts up" all the time, she said. After eating lunch with him one day, a teacher said to Moore, "Now how often do you find a principal who is down to earth enough where we can have fun and joke around," she recalled.
Most importantly, Moore said Glass truly enjoys the students. Before gifted programs were really developed, Glass would pull some of the more advanced math pupils and teach them prealgebra. It was a good way to "get from behind the desk," Glass said, and Moore said it meant a great deal to the kids.
"I've had kids who have come from other schools tell me they can't believe the principal jokes with them in the halls and shakes their hands. They're so surprised," Moore said.
Glass began as a math teacher in his home turf in Roanoke. By 1963, he was teaching math and coaching basketball at Radford High School. Six years later, he became principal of McHarg Elementary.
He spent 12 years there, then four years at the now-closed Kuhn-Barnett Elementary.
Now, after 12 years at Belle Heth, Glass said children haven't changed too much in all his years. They need more supervision now; he sometimes has to remind kids how to play nicely with others.
He said he's seen good changes in education, particularly with lower class sizes. He remembers being pleased when a teacher taught 32 pupils; now he gets anxious when 23 fill a room.
Glass has visited Zaire and Japan to see two of his four daughters. After retirement, he hopes to see China with a friend who is fluent in the language. And as he makes plans to spend time with his family, the principal's school family is trying to picture their days without him.
"The real question is how will we find someone to match him," said Moore.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Principal Gerry Glass looks over theby CNBshoulder of student Trevor Agee during computer class at Belle Heth
Elementary. color.