Mary Walker principal retires

Gary Coe, longtime educator and administrator at Springdale School District No. 207, has resigned as principal of the high school. However, he may reapply for his job under the state postretirement employment bill.

Coe, 59, announced his retirement at a school board meeting last month. He has worked in the district since 1977-78, first as a social studies teacher, then moving into an administration job in 1991. Coe also is the athletic director.

Coe is the school’s most successful baseball coach in school history, winning 289 games and qualifying his teams for the State B playoffs for six straight years. He was inducted into the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999.

“I have retired, but I may be back next year as a retired rehire,” Coe said. “If I decide, I will put in an application like everyone else.”

Under the Retire/Rehire legislation, retirees can be rehired, work up to 1,500 hours a year, and earn a salary while collecting pension.

Coe said over the past three years, the school has added advanced placement classes, which is not common for schools of 160 students.

The district is taking applications until July 19. Within the first week of the job posting on various job sites such as awsp.org, 18 applications were mailed to prospective candidates.

For information, contact Mary Walker School District No. 207, P.O. Box 159, Springdale, WA 99173 or call 258-4534 or e-mail cmiller@mwsk.k12.wa.us.