In recent days, I have become the Johnny Damon of central Jersey education.
For 20 years, I have worked at Westfield
High School, a secondary school in Union County – first as an English and
journalism teacher, then as an assistant principal. But starting July 1, I will
be the principal of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, a secondary school in
the town next door to Westfield. For many years, the two schools have been
archrivals in athletics, with huge student turnouts whenever they play each
other.
And now I’m moving from one to the
other. I’m by no means the first educator to do such a thing, and we certainly
have plenty of similar examples from sports as well – one notable move being
the New York Yankees’ signing of centerfielder Johnny Damon after he had led
the rival Boston Red Sox over the Yankees en route to ending Boston’s 86-year
World Series drought.
I recall the headlines of the
Yankees’ signing and thinking to myself, “How am I going to root for Johnny Damon?”
He had symbolized the rivalry, and was going to have to shave his famous beard
and long hair to comply with the Yankees’ facial hair and hair-length policies.
But once he showed up in the Bronx, Damon was fully committed to the Yankees,
and by 2009 he was helping lead them to a championship as well.
When folks have asked me about my
own rivalry switch, I have shared that the high school I attended had the same nickname
as Scotch Plains – the Raiders. And when I got to college, I attended a
university whose heated rival, Duke University, shared the same nickname as
Westfield – the Blue Devils. So based on my formative years as a student, I don’t
expect to have much trouble rooting for the Raiders and against the Blue
Devils. The difference will simply be that I’ll know and care deeply about the
students and coaches on both sides. I can think of far worse things than that.
And the principal of Westfield High
is a dear friend and mentor, so I’m sure we’ll figure out fun ways to handle
big rivalry games – who has to treat the other to lunch, or who has to wear the
other school’s gear, based on the outcome. She’s also shared that she really
looks forward to beating the school with me there. So, all right, bring it on.
Becoming a school principal carries
with it tons of challenges and opportunities, and I am preparing for those with
a complete and dedicated effort. I think all of my colleagues and students – in
the past, present and near future – care more about what I bring to the table
as an educational leader than the reality of my rivalry switch.
In the end, Johnny Damon was a
baseball player, first and foremost. And he played with class and determination.
I guess I could do far worse in comparisons.
