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Principal Given A Royal Sendoff

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By MICHELE SAGER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

TAMPA PALMS - As the man they call "King Richard" prepares to leave his kingdom, his subjects sent him off with praise and prose befitting royalty.

Friends, co-workers and students gathered at a retirement reception last week for Richard Bartels, principal of Freedom High. Bartels will retire from the school district in June after 35 years.

This will be his second retirement. Bartels retired in 2006, then returned to the district to the same position.

Many of the school district's top leaders turned out for the event, including Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.

"Richard is well-respected in the district," Elia said. "If there is a question we can't answer, it's good to know he's only a phone call away."

Cathy Valdes, the district's chief facilities officer, was area director when she moved into King High, where Bartels was principal.

"It was interesting having Richard as a landlord. He taught this former elementary principal a lot about high schools. I later found out he only taught me the things he wanted me to know," she joked.

At times, the retirement reception resembled a roast, with colleagues taking jabs at Bartels' baldness, tendency to wear his pants too high and overconfidence. Many made jokes that Bartels is known to leave every day at 3 p.m.

Area Director George Gaffney noted his surprise that Bartels stuck around Freedom until 3:30 p.m. for his retirement reception.

"I don't know how you're going to get home today," he joked. "I think I saw your gray BMW drive past me when I was coming in. I think it starts itself at 3:15 p.m., and it's left without you."

David Steele, who worked with Bartels at King, poked fun at Bartels' ego by saying he could give better retirement speeches.

"I'm surprised by all these people coming up with warm words," he said. "Richard could have done that himself."

Steele said Bartels always put students first.

"He had high expectations before high expectations became the catchword," he said.

David Brown, who once worked as assistant principal at Freedom, tossed the toughest jokes at Bartels.

"When I think of Richard Bartels, two adjectives immediately come to mind: warm and fuzzy," Brown said sarcastically. He then read a poem called "I Am Warm and Fuzzy" that chronicled Bartels' many quirks and attributes.

Sherrie Sikes, director for the south county schools area, closed out the celebration with her own more-serious poem.

"They called him 'King Richard' because he's so smart," she said. "When you get to know him, he'll steal your heart."

Bartels thanked everybody for their kind and quirky words and thanked a crew of people he worked with through the years.

"One job of a principal is to train the next generation," he said. "I know we've done that here at Freedom, and these excellent people will become the leaders of the district in years to come."

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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