Wilde Lake HS Principal Is Retiring

COLUMBIA, MD — Principal Rick Wilson is retiring from Wilde Lake High School. Wilson made the announcement on Monday, June 3. He said that he wanted to wait until the senior class had graduated, a celebration that took place on Wednesday, May 29.

The longtime educator penned a goodbye letter that captured how challenging it was to make the decision.

Wilson has been employed by the Howard County Public School System for 31 years, and he said the 13 years he spent at "The Lake" were "a blessing beyond words."

The reason he provided for his retirement was to be closer with his family.

"Please know that I firmly believe that being an educator is the greatest job in the world," Wilson wrote in his June 3 letter to the Wilde Lake High School community.

"As I continue to age, however, I realize how hard it is to balance work and family," Wilson wrote. "I am also constantly reminded that family must always come first."

He said he was choosing to retire after "much reflection, prayer and conversation with my family" and vowed to help assist the next principal with the transition.

During the 2018 commencement, Wilson shared this bit of wisdom that he appears to be applying to his own life: "Mark Twain said it best over a century ago. Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did, so throw off the bow lines, sail away from the harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails — explore, dream, discover."

Here is the June 3 letter, published in full, from Principal Rick Wilson announcing his retirement.

Dear Wilde Lake Community,

Now that our seniors have graduated, I feel obligated to let you know that I will be retiring at the end of this school year as Wilde Lake’s Principal. After much reflection, prayer, and conversation with my family, it is clear that I need to spend more time at home as a fully present husband and father. Please know that I firmly believe that being an educator is the greatest job in the world. Being one with the HCPSS for the past 31 years has been an honor and privilege. Spending 13 of these years off and on at The Lake has been a blessing beyond words. Most days, being a small part of the faculty has honestly been a “labor of love” and did not feel like a job. The Lake continues to inform, challenge, and inspire me on a daily basis and I couldn’t ask for more from any job. As I continue to age, however, I realize how hard it is to balance work and family. I am also constantly reminded that family must always come first. My feelings about this decision are obviously mixed and are best captured by the sage words of the wise philosopher Winnie the Pooh…

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

I sincerely thank you for being an incredibly supportive community for me and our entire faculty and, most importantly, the most caring of parents for our students. Your care and love continue to make The Lake the very special place that has been for now 47 years!

Finally, please know that I am fully resolved to helping prepare the individual fortunate to be named The Lake’s 11thPrincipal for a smooth and effective transition.

Forever grateful and proud to be a Wilde Cat…

~Rick