Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Park principal plans to retire
BY K. SCOTT KREIDER, Correspondent

Park Elementary School in Columbia will see some administrative changes next school year when principal Debra Wallace retires.

At the Columbia Borough School Board meeting on Jan. 17, officials wished her the best and approved Wallace's retirement, which will be effective Sept. 1.

Wallace, who will be 55 when she retires, has worked with the district for 34 years as a special education teacher, a fourth-grade teacher, a special education coordinator and finally as principal. She has served as principal of Park Elementary for 13 years.

"Deb has been a great teacher. As an administrator she was wonderful with both the kids and the parents," board president Tom Strickler said in a phone interview Jan. 22.

"She has helped many students with things beyond just academics," he said.

In an email, Wallace said she is retiring for personal reasons and will greatly miss the students of Park Elementary.

"We have fabulous students at Park," Wallace said. "It makes me very proud to see what my past students have accomplished and to see their own children coming to school now."

Wallace said, "I appreciate all the support I have received from the parents and community over the years. I feel privileged that I had the opportunity to be a teacher and an administrator in Columbia."

Strickler said that the school board will begin discussions on Wallace's replacement next month.