During a time of cuts in education funding, districts across the state are desperate to keep as many of the best teachers and administrators as money will allow.
That’s why it was difficult to hear the news that Ben Coltrane is resigning from his post as principal at Walnut Elementary School at the end of the school year. Although he was a new administrator to USD 253 in 2007, during the short time he’s led the Walnut School Patriots, he has shown brightly in the district.
Leadership through service was his style, a model of leadership that is often missing, but needed more than ever, in schools today. For students and staff alike, he worked hard to create a community at Walnut that valued service as much as an excellent education.
And like a good principal should, Mr. Coltrane led by example.
It was not uncommon to hear teachers and staff at Walnut remark that they could always count on Mr. Coltrane to be their No. 1 advocate. According to one teacher, it wasn’t unusual to hear her principal say, “Tell me what you need and I will do whatever I can to get it so you can do your job.”
In fact, from serving lunch and covering recess duty to sweeping the floors, helping with minor classroom maintenance projects and taking out the cafeteria trash, Mr. Coltrane didn’t consider any job beneath him, many who work with him testify.
As for the students, Mr. Coltrane’s vision for the character of his students was just as clear as his vision for their education.
“We try and create leaders out of our students,” Coltrane said in an article for The Gazette in 2009, “and we know…one of the best ways to do that is by having service projects, having students learn how to serve others.”
Walnut School students have participated in a number of service projects in recent years including fund raisers for the Red Cross efforts in Haiti, Pennies for Patients and Earth Day neighborhood clean-ups, among others. One of Mr. Coltrane’s latest initiatives was the organization of an association in the school’s surrounding neighborhoods to foster a tighter sense of community and the integration of Walnut School with that community.
The Emporia school district has seen many principals come and go over the years. Some have been missed. Some have not. Certainly, Mr. Coltrane’s seemingly premature resignation from Walnut School will be a loss to the Emporia school district.
But what we hope isn’t lost, especially for the students at Walnut, is the model of servant leadership that he set for those with whom he worked.
Ashley Knecht Walker
Editor
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
Very nice article Ashley.
Mr. Coltrane is one of the best individuals I have ever had the pleasure knowing. He is truly a stand up person and was the kind of person you would want your kids looking up to. This is a great loss for the district.
February 25, 2010 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Well, the "white elephant" in the room for this Walnut school neighbor is whether they're going to close the school. Is that why Coltrane is quitting?
February 25, 2010 at 6:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
From what I heard, he didnt quit. His contract was not renewed. This is the school boards way of sugar coating what they did.
Why go ahead and approve a bid to re-roof the school if it is closing. Are they consolidating the Prinicpal's?
What a loss for the Walnut School. What a pleasant and caring person. You liked and respected the man from the minute you met him.
Who ever is lucky enough to hire this young man will be getting a winner.
After this travesty, I have come to realize that Mr. Coltrane deserves more then this half a$$ wanna be, town.
If cuts had to be made, than so it be, but it makes no sense that this rising star's contract was not renewed. I am sure there are less deserving in his position in the district.
Good luck to you and your family. You will be dearly missed.
February 25, 2010 at 6:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Whose fault is it that education funding to local school districts has been cut, is it the half a$$ towns fault or is it the fault of the Administration/Administrators fault, because they saw fit to needlessly spend more and more, while the people who actually paid for the school districts funding were losing their lively hood and therefore tax revenues tanked ? I say the funding cuts were a combination of several things. 1. needless, over spending 2. Economic melt down/loss of jobs 3. Ever increasing taxpayer tax burden . Are/were the main causes of the current, lack of funding crisis.
And it was reported in the main story that, Mr. Coltrane " resigned " his position as Walnut School Principal, so which is it, resigned or non renewal of contract ?
To blame this on a town, a half a$$ wanna be town at that, is just plain absurd and not called for.
Who in their right mind would support more inflated taxes, just to support further bloated, needless spending ?
Now is the time to break this ugly cycle, no matter how painful it maybe . But I still say that the people of Emporia and the County cannot condone nor survive higher and higher taxes and more and more needless spending. It is time for those who have been chosen to be in leadership positions to be held accountable and made to suffer along with the rest of the " PEOPLE ' .
February 25, 2010 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
I have always said that if cuts need to be made then do it,but I would have hoped that more than length of service would have been used when deciding who needs to go. No one we have spoken to can see how it makes sense.
Look at what Mr. Coltrane has accomplished and the respect he has gained in the community in his short tenure.
February 25, 2010 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
Mr. Coltrane sounds like a wonderful principal. My kids are no longer in grade school, but it would have been great for them to be influence by his leadership style.
February 25, 2010 at 10:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
Gotta love the garbage from the uninformed. There is no travesty here nks.....Ben Coltrane resigned. I'm fortunate enough to know why, but refuse to share that as it is the business of him and his family, and not gossip monger's such as yourself.
If it's easier for you to be pass half truth's, spew bitterness and blame a "half-azz wanna be town" nks, than knock yourself out.
February 25, 2010 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
Not sure what info you have Joe_Strummer but I know that he was asked to resign because they were not going to renew him.
It is a shame because he is a very good person and leader. His staff liked him alot and so did the kids.
February 26, 2010 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodjoss (anonymous) says...
This thing stinks.
Only a few will know the whole story, but it's pretty well known that Mr. Coltrane was asked to resign.
Unfortunately, I think Dr. Heim may loose some standing.
He has with me.
Everything he advocates as far as budget cuts will hurt the teachers and students, not administration.
When tough times come around, a good leader will take the brunt of the blow. I don't think Dr. Heim and his administration is taking the hit in these tough times.
Mr. Coltrane is famous for his positive leadership. Ask his teachers. Ask the parents of his students.
I for one would call on our elected school board officials to fire Dr. Heim, and I nominate Ben Coltrane for the new superintendent of 253.
February 26, 2010 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
goodjoss--
I think Ben is a great person, but I am not sure he would be good fit for the superintendent job. He is too nice of a guy and I think he would have a hard time making tough decisions and right now there are boatloads of unpopular decisions that have to be made.
I like Dr. Heim but I think he has an agenda in mind and needs to step back and take a look at it and see if it is really what is best for the community and more importantly the children of the community. In other words, I really don't or can't fault him for trying to push his "plan" through, it just might not be the best plan.
February 26, 2010 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
Joe_Strummer-Not much to say.... Are you calling us all gossip mongers now????
February 26, 2010 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
butterfly (anonymous) says...
Ben Coltrane - there aren't enough positive words to describe him as a leader and a man. He puts everyone else's needs above his own - right down to the resignation. He is the kind of leader our community needs. He loves his wife, loves his children, and lives his life with the attitude of a servant. Our community has been blessed by the presence of him, and his family. I sure hope we find a place for them here, if not, we lost more than a principal and community leader, we will lose an entire family that has been and will continue to be a positive influence and force in our town. Let's turn the school district's loss into a gain for our community.
March 1, 2010 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )