DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709270196

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 20 QUESTIONS 

SOURCE: BY SCOTT MCCASKEY, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

DERAN R. WHITNEY ELEPHANT'S FORK ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL COMES HOME

Deran R. Whitney grew up in Hampton. His wife, Conjo, is a Suffolk native. They met when they were attending Christopher Newport University, where they both earned degrees in education and subsequently landed teaching jobs. Deran found work in Hampton, Conjo in Suffolk. They chose to live in Suffolk.

``We decided to settle here because it's still pretty rural and quiet, but it's growing enough that you're not far from the business district and entertainment,'' said Deran Whitney, 32.

Since then, Deran has spent six of those seven years commuting to Hampton. He did work on year in Suffolk as Southwestern Elementary's assistant principal. For the past two years he has been principal of Bassette Elementary School in Hampton.

But his commuting days are at an end. In October, he becomes principal of Elephant's Fork Elementary in Suffolk.

``It's nice not to have to commute, but the real reason I'm glad to be in Suffolk is to be able to spend more time with my 1-year-old daughter, Chelsea,'' Whitney said. ``I emphasize parental involvement at school, and I wasn't getting to spend as much time with my daughter as I wanted working in Hampton.''

Conjo Whitney is happy too.

``We had often talked about him coming back here, and now that that has happened, we'll both be here for the quality time with our daughter,'' said Conjo Whitney, 32, a teacher at Oakland Elementary.

Whitney says he prefers working at the elementary school level.

``It's a time when students are young and most impressionable,'' he explained. ``You can make a difference with early intervention as opposed to remediating problems later on and playing catchup.''

Whitney is moving to a bigger school: Elephant's Fork has 700 students as opposed 500 pupils at Bassette.

One other difference: Suffolk has the ``Reading Recovery'' program, in which reading problems are addressed early in elementary school.

``The Reading Recovery program is an early intervention program,'' he explained. ``It is designed to recognize problems, intervene, and help accelerate the student beyond those problems.''

Whitney said that after he gets acclimated to Elephant's Fork, he has some programs he'd like to implement.

``I'm looking forward to seeing what's needed, and getting some feedback from the faculty on some possible ideas,'' Whitney said. ``One is to start a tutorial program, where volunteers from the city's business community, parents, and community leaders work with select students on basic skills such as reading, writing, and math.''

What brought you here? I have always wanted to work in the community in which I live. I also wanted to work near my daughter.

Birthdate/hometown: December 24, 1964, Hampton.

Favorite childhood memory: Playing family games in the backyard, badminton and kickball.

Pets: None.

Marital status/children: Married to Conjo V. Whitney, a daughter, Chelsea Briana, age 1.

First job/worst job: Cutting the neighbors' grass/loading and packing fish for a seafood company.

Occupation: Principal at Elephant's Fork Elementary.

If you had a choice, what other job would you choose? Something in advertising.

What's your favorite hangout? Home.

What's your favorite night out on the town? Home.

Favorite food/drink? Potatoes/Pepsi.

Favorite movie? ``Jurassic Park.''

Book you wish everyone would read: ``Miseducation'' by David Elkind.

Ideal vacation: A cruise.

Something you can't resist: Junk food.

Most embarrassing moment: Getting my tie stuck in a newspaper holder in front of a 7-11.

If you won the lottery, what would you do, buy? I would pay all bills and invest the money.

What's the best advice you've been given and by whom? Think! by my father.

What's the best thing about yourself? I try to remain positive at all times.

If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I would not wish to trade places with anyone.

Your proudest achievements: I'm most proud of being my daughter's father.

Something you'd like to say but haven't: People should always treat and interact with people the way they want to be treated. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

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