AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL: SUPERINTENDENT GURKA'S EDUCATIONAL CAREER COMES TO A CLOSE
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By: Emma Kolick
mid a period of remarkable mately decided upon elementary education in his sophchange for North Royalton omore year of college at Ohio University. Partly inspired City Schools, as construction by transformative interactions with his past teachers, of both a state-of-the-art he continued to further his pursuit into the educational high school and a master elementary field by obtaining both a master’s degree and a superinschool significantly broadens educa- tendent’s license. Beginning his career as a teacher in lotional horizons, the completion of these grand buildings cal communities, he eventually transitioned into various has allowed for increased opportunities for students and administrative positions, including principal of Albion staff alike. Coupled with the sucElementary in 2002 and later cessful navigation of a massive director of personnel for NRCS, public health crisis in ensuring until ultimately achieving the tiboth physical safety and contintle of district superintendent in ued academic accomplishments, 2013. the district has triumphed in creGiven his transition from a ating a school system that is able teacher who directly worked to conquer unexpected chalwith children to administrative lenges while also generating an positions that hindered student extraordinary atmosphere that interactions, this lack of daily enables students to thrive. exposure was no match for Gur However, the leadership that ka’s passion for watching kids has guided the district into this flourish in academics, athletics, position will soon alter, as Superand the arts. “There’s few events intendent Gurka has emotionalyou don’t see him at, and not bely announced his plans to retire cause he has to go, but because at the end of the current school he genuinely enjoys going and year, creating a sense of sadness seeing the students succeed,” said within the community that has Presot. viewed his nearly decade long While his three daughters atsuperintendency with immense tended NRCS, his attendance at pleasure and contentment. As after-school activities and events North Royalton will undergo has remained consistent despite a change it has not endured in their graduation. almost ten years, Mr. Gurka’s During the annual Royal View literacy night “I still try and go to all the basin which young students gather to hear lengthy educational career will ketball games, the football games, come to a culminating end at this prominent community members give ani- the plays, and I’ve even driven year’s commencement ceremo- mated readings of children books, Mr. Gurka down to Columbus to watch the ny, marking his last official act as shows the illustrated version of “Hensel and band perform at contest,” said Gretel Ninja Chicks.” superintendent whose legacy will Gurka. “When I watch these stuoutlive the duration of his posidents practice and perform, I feel tion. that same pride for the students as I did for my own “I’ve enjoyed every moment with him. It’s been a kids,” he continued sentimentally. Heavily involved in great experience, and he’s a leader who trusts the peo- the school community, his prioritization for students is ple he works with,” said assistant superintendent Mr. consistently reflected in his day-to-day work. Presot. “He always has the kids’ best interest in mind, Though the superintendent’s role is markedly imand he’s certainly left his mark on the district,” he contin- portant from the students’ view, given his authority to ued. Working together for roughly twenty years, they’ve call snow days, allowing for exciting snowball fights and grown tremendously close in their roles. Though Gur- later wake up times, his position is actually filled with an ka’s career in North Royalton began two decades ago as abundance of complexities similar to this scenario. principal of Albion Elementary, this only represents a “People pay close attention to my decisions regardportion of his vast educational experience. ing snow days,” he said with a laugh, “but I make a Initially unsure of his potential career path, he ulti- thousand of those kinds of decisions a day.” Overseeing 6
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