What Retiring Jefferson Principal Will Miss Most About Junior High

John McClenahan is the principal at . He will retire this summer after serving as principal for two years and assistant principal for seven years.

Woodridge Patch: Why do you like working with junior high students?

John McClenahan: It's probably because it's the time to see the biggest change in their lives. I think junior high teachers can have the biggest impact on the students' maturity and their change from being little kids to young adult, high school kids.

Patch: What are some accomplishments that you're proud of at Jefferson?

McClenahan:  Kids who come back to visit or who send emails about how well they’re doing. It might even be kids who were struggling when they were here, saying, "I'm really glad you told me what you did, when you did."

Physically, there have been great improvmenents to the building -- the fitness center, the marquee out front. We had lockers that were 30 years old and got them replaced. The building has always been in great shape and the maintenance staff keeps it looking new. I'm always proud to have people come into the building because it's always looking good.

Patch: What are you going to miss after you retire?

McClenahan: I will miss the daily interaction with the kids. I try to be outside when the buses pull up in the morning. I try to say good morning to the students before they say good morning to me. Some of them go out of their way to say, "Good morning" and "How are you?"

There's also the eighth-grade class trip. The entire eighth grade goes out on Lake Michigan on the Spirit of Chicago. It's the last time for the eighth grade to be together before they're split into North and South (High Schools). They enjoy a DJ and dancing and looking at the skyline of Chicago. It’s a nice day. The teachers have a good time and the kids have a good time.

Patch: Do you have any plans for after your retirement?

McClenahan: My wife is a retired junior high teacher. She retired this past June. We plan to do some traveling. My whole family is certified in scuba diving. We'll go in the off-season when rates are a little cheaper. And I want to play more golf. I play golf with some retired administrators and teachers, and I don’t get to play unless it's summer.