UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, April 20, 1993
7
Lacey Rochhold, Vinland elementary school student, shows her affection for her principal, Gus Wesner. Because of his special relationship with the students, Wegn
er often receives hugs like hers.
They call him Gus
Educator puts the 'pal' in principal with warm, informal style
Gus Wegner and third/fourth grade teacher Donna Caviness, help Jonathan Crist, Marion Springs elementary student, with his school work.
Above: Gus Wegner is principal of both Vinland and Marion Springs elementary schools. He defines himself as a classroom principal who spends his time with the students not in his office. Below: Gus talks with Laura Huffman, Marion Springs student, during lunch. Gus eats with the students whenever possible.
T
hev call him Gus.
At least, the students at Vinland and Marion Springs elementary schools do. Gus Wegner, Lawrence resident, is the principal of both schools in the Baldwin City school district.
Notes and drawings are taped to the walls of a building.
the room, sunlit office in one of the places he calls home — Vinland elementary. His other office in Marion Springs is cozy and modern, with no windows for distractions. It is coated with Valentine cards and drawings from his students and a sign that says, "My other office has a window."
He is the principal that taught us all to spell the word "princIPAL." His students think of him as a dad, older students hug him and the kindergartners think he's the greatest.
Story and Photos by
Glenda Rockers, Gus's secretary at Marion Springs, thought Gus would not be there long when he first started at the school five years ago.
"I needed him to sign something for me, and I couldn't find him anywhere," she said.
She finally looked outside and found Gus playing basketball with the kids.
Doug Hesse
"He was just shooting baskets."
school, and he says he never quite feels like he's home because he has to travel so much. The schools are about 20 minutes apart.
**B** being principal of two schools is harder than just one, Gus said, because of the transient nature of the job. He
"Both schools are really different," Gus said.
While Viland has to fight for funds to maintain classroom space, Marion Springs is exploring new frontiers by being the first school in the district to have its own outdoor ecology education facility complete with a prairie, watering hole, animal and bird attractors and pine trees planted by each student in the school.
The Marion Springs' building is only a few years old, while Vinland's building was constructed more than 70 years ago. It previously housed Vinland High School. Now it is the administration building for the elementary school. Classes are held in a newer partition annex next dqor. A gymnasium was added recently
He spends a couple of hours at each school each day, if possible. But since he also is director of the curriculum for the school district, he spends about 10 percent of his time at Baldwin City's high school.
Gus says that he has never worried about leaving a school because his staffs are so strong that he knows the schools will function well without him.
But there's always the phone, in case something comes up," he said.
Charlene Potter, Martion Springs' fourth/fifth grade teacher said that Gus ranked among the best of the principals she had taught under during her 25 years as a teacher.
"He encourages teachers to develop their own ideas," she said, which helps to keep teachers motivated. He also wants teachers to get out of the building more so that they can grow in other experiences.
"He's a lot more relaxed than the principal who was here before him," Rockers said.
"We're all equal," she said.
Gus has a style all his own. He calls himself a classroom principal. He likes to go into classrooms and listen in on the lessons and help the students with their school work. And the kids like him. They mob him if given the chance, hugging him and saying hellos.
Andy Breedlove, a fourth-grade student at Marion Springs, says that he likes Gus a lot because Gus will come into the classroom and talk with him and his classmates.
Gus goes into the classrooms often, but berates himself because he can't go in as much as he would like. His other duties, like the curriculum and the bond issue, kept him from being with the kids.
But it's not just the kids or teachers who he cares about.
Carrol Collins, a bus driver for Marion Springs, said that Gus was great.
"I can trust to go to him with anything and he won't betray my confidence," she said.
Gus makes the kids work and not just have fun when he's around. When he plays a game, he plays it right and he doesn't let the kids win, Rockers said. So when they do win, the kids have something to be proud of — they win on their merits.
Melissa Johnson, fourth grader at Marion Springs, says that Gus is nice because he helps her with her math and gives no one special treatment.
"We are all equal, she said.
Because of the relationship he has with most of the students, Gus has few discipline problems.
"Since the kids respect me and know they can get in trouble, we have a few problems," cuenta.
But when he does have a problem, he sits the troublemakers down and tries to find out why they did what they did and explains why it was wrong.
did what they did and explains why it was v
Then he pulls out his ultimate weapon.
"I discipline the kids by talking to them." Gus said. "My plan is to talk to them until they're so bored they won't ever do what got them in trouble again."
ad they do come in—to talk, ask advice and show him how they have improved in something he red them with.
The children at both elementary schools call their principal by his first name, and no one thinks it is a compliment. Mr. McFarland said, "They feel closer to him and
out) they still respect him for who he is and what he does." Rockers said "they feel closer to him and — they're better. They don't feel as comfortable with 'Doctor' or 'Mister' as with 'Gus.'"
More kids will walk into his office and talk with Gus and tell him their problems because the kids feel comfortable with him, she said.
need control.
"Sometimes I'll have several kids come into the office just to talk to Gus." "Rockers said. "It makes me feel a lot more fun."
school for more than 10 years.
Gus said, "I don't feel that a first-name basis lessens their respect for me. I don't respect comes from my name, I think it comes from actions."