ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 11, 1996 TAG: 9606110036
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
THE PRINCIPAL of the Roanoke County Career Center plans to trade in his role as teacher and take up being a student - of golf and gardening.
If Willie Waker hadn't been laid off from his job at a Roanoke textile plant as a young man, he probably never would have become a teacher, coach and principal.
He would not have taught and coached Roanoke School Superintendent Wayne Harris when Harris was a high school student.
Waker would not have coached in one of the big football games in Roanoke Valley sports history: the first-time-ever victory of Salem's then-George Washington Carver High School over Lucy Addison High in Roanoke, 45-12, in 1963.
He would not have spent 35 years teaching and coaching hundreds of children. He would not have become a role model for scores of youngsters.
Waker, principal of the Roanoke County Career Center, is retiring this year because he wants to take up golf and spend more time growing roses and vegetables. He recently was named the county's Educator of the Year by the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce,
The center, in the old William Byrd High School in Vinton, is the county's pre-vocational school for about 135 eighth-, ninth- and tenth-graders who have experienced adjustment problems.
"I'm ready for a rest. I'm sure I will miss some aspects of the job, because you can't come to work for 35 years and leave without missing some things," he said. "But I'll have plenty to keep me busy."
Waker, 60, has worked for Roanoke County schools since 1962, beginning as a science teacher and assistant football coach at George Washington Carver High when it was part of the county school system. He was a teacher and head football coach at Susie Gibson High School in Bedford County for a year before he began in Roanoke County.
Waker grew up in Roanoke, where he graduated from Lucy Addison High in 1954 when schools were still segregated. He didn't consider going to college then.
"I was working at Roanoke Mills in 1956, and I really liked the job. But I got laid off, and then I decided to go to college," he said.
Waker attended Saint Paul's College in Brunswick County, where he planned to study vocational education. But the college was in the process of dropping its vocational education courses and switching to a liberal arts and education curriculum. As a result, Waker got his degree in secondary education with a major in science.
At Carver, he taught biology, chemistry and physics in addition to coaching football. He taught chemistry to Harris, the Roanoke superintendent, who grew up in Salem. Harris was a lineman on the football team.
"We knew [Harris] had the potential to excel in whatever he did. He was a good player," Waker said. "He was a good student, too, though we didn't know he would become a superintendent."
Waker still has a newspaper story with a picture of the Carver team that beat Addison for the first time. He points to Harris on the front row. Carver was a small school with about 250 students, while Addison had more than 700.
Waker had mixed emotions about the game against his alma mater.
"Carver had always tried to beat Addison. We felt elated when we won the game."
Harris has fond memories of Waker. "He pushed us academically to do our best, but he was always so patient with such inner strength," the superintendent said. "He always had a smile.''
Harris said he'll always remember Waker because he was taking a test in Waker's chemistry class when former President John Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in November 1963.
Waker remained at Carver until 1966, when Roanoke County schools were integrated and he transferred to Northside High as a biology teacher, head track coach and assistant football coach.
Waker got out of coaching in 1978 and became assistant principal at Northside. In 1984, he was named principal of the Roanoke County Occupational School for special education students. He became principal of the career center seven years ago.
Teachers and students cite Waker's compassion as an educator.
"He's one of the most caring people I've ever seen," said Judy Deyerle, a math teacher at the career center. "He cares about the future of the children, and he's always looking out for them."
Ninth-grader Joe Hayes said Waker can defuse tension and conflict among students. "When students are about to get into fights, he can make them get over it and become friends again."
When students get into trouble, they often turn to their principal for help. They say he is firm but fair.
"He cuts me slack when I get into trouble. He tries to solve the problem," said Travis Hill, a ninth-grader. "He's a good principal.''
David Carroll, a vocational teacher, said Waker, who was recently named as the county's Educator of the Year by the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, tries to help the staff get needed instructional equipment and material.
Waker has pressed county school officials to get more computers and technology for the alternative education school to bolster the "hands-on" instructional approach.
"Lectures and tests don't work with many of these students. They will tune you out if you lecture too long," he said. "I care about the kids and want to do what I can to help them."
Computers are used in all vocational courses, including construction technology and small engine repairs.
At the career center, Waker started a mentoring program with General Electric. Some GE workers visit the center and serve as role models for students.
Another longtime county principal, Margaret Moles, also is retiring this year. Moles, a former principal of Oak Grove Elementary, has been on a leave of absence this year. She was named Virginia's Outstanding Principal in 1995 and recognized at a White House dinner.
Moles, who worked for the county for 27 years, also is a former principal of Green Valley Elementary. At Oak Grove, she helped establish a mentoring program for school administrative interns at Virginia Tech.
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. Principal Willie Waker is retiringby CNBafter 35 years of serving as principal, teacher, coach and role
model. Travis Hill, a student at Roanoke County Career Center, works
in the background. color.