From budget cuts to COVID-19, retiring Ypsilanti-area principal reflects on decades of work – MLive.com

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- In an elementary school of roughly 500 students, Principal Mary Aldridge tries to remember each of her students names. Students flock to her room for lunch and stop to wave or hug her as she walks through the halls.

This is her ninth and last year at the elementary school, as Aldridge is retiring after nearly 30 years of working in Lincoln Consolidated Schools.

I like making sure that people have what they need, Aldridge said about her role as principal. Whether its children, parents, or especially teachers.

She began in the district as a student at 12 years-old. After graduating from high school, she ventured off to Welch College, a private college in Tennessee. She didnt always want to be a teacher but said she fell into it. and quickly fell in love with the idea of teaching kids.

Aldridge returned to Lincoln schools, first as a substitute and media specialist, and became a teacher there in 1995. She taught kindergarten to third grade for nearly a decade before moving on to administrative roles in 2008. She served as assistant principal at Brick Elementary School and principal of Model Elementary School.

Aldridge has loved her time in each of the elementary schools, she said, but the years were not without challenges.

I tried to have fun wherever Im going, wherever Im at, she said. We like to joke around and have fun. And I think you have to really enjoy your job because its so hard. I think teaching is one of the hardest jobs, other than being a parent, that you could ever do.

Through budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, she led teachers through what she said is an increasingly difficult profession.

Its harder now being a teacher than when I started, Aldridge said. The challenges are greater because families are going through more, whether its social emotional issues, or whether its economic issues, or whether its split families, broken families. Theyre going through a lot and our staff goes through a lot and so their jobs are harder and harder.

In recent years, the school has brought in new, younger teachers, Aldridge said. Shes had fun mentoring the new generation.

The Lincoln School Board said goodbye to Aldridge at its May 13 meeting, thanking her for her years of service.

Its always a pleasure to come into your building and see bright, engaged, smiling kids and adults who are excited about learning, Board President Jennifer Czachorski said. We wish you all the best in your retirement.

Taking her place is Laura Maurer, who is coming from Allen Park Public Schools, where she was assistant principal at Lindemann Elementary School. Introducing herself at the board meeting, she said she is very excited to joining the community and it will be a new challenge.

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From budget cuts to COVID-19, retiring Ypsilanti-area principal reflects on decades of work - MLive.com