Park announces retirement after 30 years with USD 489

tornado drill allen park — Park participates in a tornado drill at Washington Elementary School in 2013.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Longtime Washington Elementary School Principal Allen Park submitted his retirement during Monday night’s meeting of the Hays USD 489 school board.

Park has served as the Washington school principal the past 25 years.

The Washington building, opened in 1926, will cease operation as a school today, May 19, 2015. It is being repurposed to house the district’s Early Childhood Connections programs beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.

Park will continue to serve as the Transition Coordinator until Oct. 2.

He has been working with students, parents and staff to transfer to one of the four other USD 489 elementary schools. In mid-March, Park said “all teachers and 117 students have already been assigned to one of four remaining elementary schools within the district.”

In his letter presented May 18 to board members Park said, “I wanted to take this time to thank you for all of the opportunities that I have experienced working for USD #489. I have enjoyed my employment as a paraprofessional, coach, ELL and industrial arts teacher, and as the principal of Washington Elementary for the last twenty-five years. I will miss the many students, families, and co-workers that I have had the privilege to work with over the last thirty years.”

Park was also named District Migrant Director in 1990.

He has earned a number of honors the past 25 years:

Sunrise Rotary Club of Hays, 2014 Rotarian of the Year
Boy Scouts of America Area Council, 2011 Outstanding Administrator
Outstanding Administrator Technology Rich School Grant- 2004 $149,000 grant
NAESP – National Association of Elementary School Principals, 1999 National Distinguished Principal Award winner representing Kansas
KAESP – Kansas Association Elementary Principals, Distinguished Principal nominee District Five 1998
KAHPERD – Administrator Award 1998
KAHPERD – Exemplary Program of Physical Education 1997
Distinguished Principal nominee District Five
KAESP, Outstanding Focus School 1991
Leadership Hays, Inaugural class 1990

Superintendent Dean Katt said, “We are thankful for Allen’s 25 years of service to the students, staff, and parents of USD #489. Allen will play an important role as the Transition Coordinator over the next several months to ensure the Washington students and parents are able to transition smoothly into their new environments. We wish Allen the best of luck in his future endeavors.”