Whipple retires as Sprague Schools superintendent

Pat Whipple submitted his letter of resignation as superintendent and elementary principal of Sprague School District at the February board meeting.

Bill Ressel will take over his duties as superintendent and principal.

Whipple stated he completed 38 fantastic years in education; “When an elementary student tells me that I taught his grandmother or when you look around at the staff and you have the whitest hair maybe it is time to step down and look toward doing something different.”

Although his official status will be retired, he said he does not plan on sitting around. He has a very long list of things he wants to do, which he calls his bucket list.

He stated he feels the Sprague and Lamont Schools have astonishing staff and he cannot think of a better place for children to receive their education. He mentioned that the school boards have been very supportive and committed to kids first.

Whipple said he appreciated the staff, parents, school board and community for the opportunity to be the head leader of Sprague’s wonderful school system. He stated it has been one of his goals to live by one of Henry Ford’s quotes “Don’t find fault, find a solution”.

Over the years he said if someone came to him with a compliant, he would ask them if they came with a solution. If everyone has the positive attitude of working toward finding a solution you can move mountains, explained Whipple.

He also worked toward being able to say at the end of the day, he had no regrets.

He asks the community to continue to give their support to the Sprague and Lamont Schools because they really do great things for the students.