Trentwood principal earn luck of the Irish, ride in annual parade

Ted Epperson had no idea what was in store for him when he showed up at work Friday.

Epperson is the principal at Trentwood Elementary School, and he knew there was an assembly scheduled for 9:45 a.m. – but he did not know that he was going to share in the famous luck of the Irish.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick were there to award Epperson the annual Principal on Parade award, which includes a ride in Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Spokane, as well as a $1,000 donation to the school.

Out of more than 1,000 nomination letters, judges picked a letter written by Trentwood fifth-grader Noah Henderson, 11.

When Tim O’Doherty, a member of Sons of St. Patrick and the owner of O’Doherty’s Irish Grille – the epicenter of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations – announced Epperson’s award, the principal couldn’t believe his ears.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Epperson said after the assembly, while children and staff cheered.

Henderson was a little overwhelmed by all the attention.

He said he likes Epperson because he eats lunch with the students and he goes out to recess with them.

“And he’s really good at football,” Henderson said.

Henderson will get to ride with Epperson in the horse-drawn carriage that’s sponsored by Spokane Teachers Credit Union and gives free rides downtown during the holiday season.

STCU co-sponsors the Principal on Parade contest with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Students from area schools send short letters nominating their principal to the Sons of St. Patrick, which picks the winning letter.

Henderson’s letter mentioned that Epperson will let students stay in his office to do homework after school.

And it finished with: “He is the awesomest principal ever.”