2020 EDUCATION MAGAZINE

2020 Education Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Page 29 Lora has 14 years experience in education and has worked the last eight years for Lincoln Elementary District #27. She will begin working officially for District #23 on July 1, 2020. Mrs. Lora’s hiring is a perfect fit for the district as Principal Newton prepares for his upcoming retirement. A revolving door - Gene Newton looks ahead to retirement “I’ve met Danielle,” said Newton. “She’s been into the office a few times. We are actually interviewing people together for the teaching positions that we will have open at the end of the school year. I am impressed with Danielle. I think she will do very well.” Prior to coming to Mount Pulaski, Newton served one year as principal at Farmington and taught Math at Hanna City for 10 years. He is a Lincoln native who attended Lincoln College and Illinois State University. After nearly two decades on the job at Mount Pulaski, Newton is leaving his own legacy. “The biggest legacy that I am leaving is the people,” said Newton. Principal Newton said, “I got a chance to work with a lot of great people, students and parents over 18 years. I’ve met most everybody in this town. A lot of the ones who are 30 years old and younger, I had in school. The staff here, the faculty, I hired all the new teachers. There are just a handful of teachers still here that were hired before I got here. “When I first got here they had a great group of teachers who were very good to me. They made it very easy for me and I am sure this group will do the same for our new principal.” “Other retired teachers have told me that you don’t realize you are retired until the next school year starts because you’ve got the summer off,” said Newton. “I plan on playing a lot of golf and enjoying football season. I may sub a little bit, I don’t know yet. My wife is still planning on teaching one more year maybe, so I’ll be around. My last day is June 15 and I am not far away, so if they need me for anything, all they have to do is call me.” As for the students he leaves behind, Newton says, “They keep you young. The kids are different now, but fourth graders are still nine to 10 years old.” Newton has a lot of great memories and summed up his time at MPGS pretty simply, “I’ve had a great time here. The town has been very good to me. It’s been fun.” Just like that, one door closes and another one opens. The community of Mount Pulaski has a lot to look forward to, with education at the center of it all.