Hanceville Elementary Principal Stacie Olinger retiring
HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Hanceville Elementary School principal Stacie Olinger has decided to retire after six years at the school. Before coming to Hanceville, she was the assistant principal at Austinville Elementary in Decatur for a year and she said that experience helped prepare her for the assistant principal job at Hanceville.
“Being an assistant principal significantly helped me in obtaining a principal position. Before coming to Hanceville, I was the assistant principal at Austinville Elementary in Decatur City. That experience helped me get the assistant principal position at Hanceville Elementary. I built a great relationship with faculty, staff and parents at Hanceville Elementary. Knowing the students personally and the parents makes a school feel like home, which I think is so important when managing a school. A family setting is a big part of helping students feel supported and valued. When my students walked through the doors, they were greeted with hugs and a good morning. Building personal relationships is so important.”
Susan Melton, who retired as principal before Olinger took the job, helped prepare Olinger for the role as well.
“My principal, Susan Melton, was retiring. She was the best. She always encouraged me and involved me in decision making. She never made me feel like I only had certain roles as the assistant principal. She made sure I knew what was going on and involved me in the leadership role,” Olinger said. “I learned how to multi-task and wear many hats. Being an assistant/principal is just a title. My parents taught me the value of work. Be involved in it. As an assistant principal or principal, you need to be ready to take on many tasks: counselor, janitor, teaching, nurse, wherever you are needed. Be present. Listen. Give love to students, parents and faculty. Our kids have seen and been through so much in their short lives. I have so many students I would love to take home with me.”
Olinger had her fair share of role models during her time working in education and she soaked up as much as she could from each of them.
“My role models were Brandon Payne, Frank Harris, Tony Willis and Susan Melton. They all encouraged me and guided me. I can’t thank them enough. Another one of my role models was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Joyce Patterson. She believed in me and encouraged me to be my best. I learned to listen, be where your feet are, be open, be ready for change, make unselfish decisions and have a vision,” Olinger said. “I love to make people laugh. I have scared students and teachers. I hid in closets and jumped out to scare them (laughs). I loved getting hugs every morning, and the students always noticed changes in my hair or appearance. Hanceville Elementary will forever be my home.”
Olinger wanted to make an impact on students’ lives at Hanceville, and she will deeply miss them when the school year starts in August.
“I hope I made an impact on their lives. I love all of them. I’m going to miss them so much,” she said. “I wanted Hanceville Elementary to feel like a home, not only a school. Frank Harris, my first principal from East Elementary, came to Hanceville Elementary on my first day as principal there to give me words of encouragement and wisdom. I will never forget seeing him and his wife, Dianne, at the doors of Hanceville Elementary and crying so hard. I will forever be grateful.”
Olinger became a grandmother not too long ago, and even though it was a tough choice to retire, she’s excited to start her new role as a grandmother.
“My daughter had her first baby, my first grandbaby. I am so excited to keep him and make new memories. Although I am sad to leave my Hanceville Elementary family, I’m excited to be a grandmother,” she said. “I will never forget the relationships I made at Hanceville Elementary. Hanceville will forever have a place in my heart. My advice to them is to keep working hard, don’t give up and lean on God to help direct and guide you.”
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