
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 5, 1995                   TAG: 9506050074
SECTION: VIRGINA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

POPULAR PRINCIPAL CALLS IT QUITS

PENN FOREST ELEMENTARY principal Patricia Sales is taking early retirement to spend more time with her family.

She never yells, gets angry, or berates them.

She smiles a lot, makes them laugh and sometimes goes on field trips with them.

That's the way the children at Penn Forest Elementary School describe their principal, Patricia Sales.

"She likes doing things with us. She cares," said Kassey Bohm, a fifth-grader.

Bryce Taylor pays Sales a supreme compliment.

"All of the kids would love to have her as a teacher," the fifth-grader said.

The children like their principal very much, as becomes evident when they talk about her retirement.

Sales has worked at the Roanoke County school since it opened 22 years ago, first for four years as assistant principal and as principal for the past 18 years.

Sales, 60, is taking early retirement because she wants to spend more time with her husband, Ed, and her family, and do more traveling, gardening and cooking.

"Being principal has been a 12-hour-a-day job. I have made a commitment to my job," she said. "But now I want to have the time to do some other things."

The children said they will miss her.

"She's thoughtful. She's friendly," said Daniel Melki, a fifth-grader.

Sales has built her reputation by heading an award-winning school and building a strong program to involve the community, parents and volunteers in the school's activities.

The school has more than 400 volunteers, including 200 who come every week or two to work with the children.

During Sales' tenure, Penn Forest has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the state Department of Education for being one of the best elementary schools in the state, thanks to its innovative programs in reading, writing, library services and other fields.

She helped oversee the development of a $225,000 playground and recreational area with equipment which is fully accessible to the disabled. The playground, which serves disabled people from throughout the Roanoke Valley, was financed by the community and private donations.

"This project represents what our school is all about," Sales said. "We want to think beyond ourselves and provide something for the community and family."

Susan Blevins, whose three children have attended Penn Forest, said Sales is one of the most dedicated and sincere persons she has ever known. Without Sales' support, the community never could have developed the showcase playground.

"Her door is always open. She is an excellent listener, and she is a wonderful role model," Blevins said.

"She has been here since the building opened. She is a fixture, and she has been a terrific leader," said Kitty Boitnott, the school librarian.

Sales has worked for Roanoke County schools for 27 years, beginning as a second-grade teacher at Green Valley Elementary School. She also taught reading before she became assistant principal at Penn Forest.

Her teaching career began with a private kindergarten in Washington, D.C., and she taught in South Carolina before she came to Roanoke County.

When Sales arrived at Penn Forest, she found she was where she wanted to stay. She never requested a transfer.

Penn Forest, one of the largest elementary schools in the county with 570 students, tries to make every student feel special, she said.

"We say Penn Forest is a school where everybody is somebody," she said. That includes every parent and volunteer who wants to help the school in dozens of ways - from working in the library to tutoring children to teaching computer keyboarding.

"She tries to involve everyone. We have one of the largest volunteer programs in county schools," said Susan Bell, a second-grade teacher.

"She listens to the teachers. She wants our ideas and is willing to try new things," Bell said. "We have a very thriving PTA."

Michael Thompson, a physical education teacher, said Sales supports teachers and gives them flexibility in developing instructional programs.

"This playground that she has supported has increased the fitness of our children," Thompson said.

The toughest part of a principal's job is being unable to please everyone, Sales said.

"I would like for everyone to be happy, but that is not realistic. You have to come to accept that," she said.

The most pleasant aspect is seeing the children succeed, she said. "The smiles on their faces is what it's about," she said.

Children have changed in the past two decades - for better in some ways and worse in others, she said.

"What I like about children today is that they are spontaneous. They are not afraid to tell you what they think and feel," she said.

But she worries that society and parents are complicating the lives of children, putting pressure on them to participate in so many activities and learn so much so quickly.

"I worry about children not having time to climb a tree, play in the grass, play with their dolls," Sales said. "Here, we try to incorporate opportunities into school so the children can just be themselves."

American culture has become more complicated and children are exposed to more information now than 10 to 15 years ago, she said. Families have to make more choices now.

Sales never planned to become a principal. During college, she specialized in kindergarten education and taught kindergarten for several years before she began working for Roanoke County.

She never taught kindergarten in Roanoke County, because it was not offered when she began, and she quickly got involved in administrative work. Her principal at Green Valley Elementary urged her to get her master's degree and become an administrator after she served on an accreditation committee at the school.

"I found that I have the ability to see how the pieces fit together down the road. That has helped me as a principal," Sales said.

Boitnott said Sales has established a team concept at Penn Forest.

"Her big thing with the faculty is communication - and team building," Boitnott said. "She is able to get people to work together."

Martha Wintermeyer, who has been Sales' secretary for 20 years, said she feels like she is losing her best friend.

"It's going to be hard," Wintermeyer said. "Her door is never closed to students, teachers, parents or anyone else."

Blevins said it will be hard to replace Sales.

"She has the ability to work with everyone and to balance their needs," Blevins said.

The children said they will lose a friend.

"She can joke and make you laugh," Michelle Wilmer said. "We'll miss that."

Patricia Sales

Penn Forest Elementary School principal

Age: 60.

Hometown: Arlington.

Education: University of Tennessee, bachelor's degree; University of Virginia, master's degree.

Professional: kindergarten teacher, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina; second-grade teacher and reading teacher at Green Valley Elementary School in Roanoke County; assistant principal and principal at Penn Forest Elementary School.

Community: Cave Spring United Methodist Church.

Family: Married; husband, Ed; sons, John and Ed.

Quote: ``It used to be that volunteers helped mostly with parties for the children. Now they help with everything. Volunteers want their time to count, to feel that they are contributing.''