Sitting in his black chair at his brown office desk with stacks of paper neatly organized on top, for 2012-2013 intern principal, Gary Clark, being back behind his office desk feels at West Fargo feels like home. Clark first began visiting the building again after a year of retirement in the beginning of July after receiving a call from super intendant, Dr. Flowers, asking to come back as principal.
“I knew bringing Mr. Clark back might be one of the options people would suggest,” Flowers said. “I called him to see if he even would consider it and he did.”
The high school staff was announced the news that Clark would be returning for the 2012-2013 year on Jul. 16th. During this time, Clark met the assistant principals and even worked on a few things before he was officially hired. Clark’s first official working day was August second.
“It felt a little funny walking in at first because I had a years worth to catch up on any changes that had occurred like new staff that were hired the year I was gone,” Clark said. “By now, it feels like I never really even left West Fargo.”
The response from both staff and student body has made Clark even more happy that he is back at West Fargo. The class of 2013 is the only class in the building who has had Clark as principal before he left in June of 2011.
“It’s been a neat reaction from a number of kids,” Clark said. “It’s very heartwarming to me.”
Assistant principal Dan Holder feels that having Clark back at West Fargo was a great decision during the time of transition.
“He brings stability and livelihood to school and to have someone who brings that in during a time of transition is really important,” Holder said. “I’m excited to have him back, he has always been a great mentor.”
When Clark left the building in 2011, he did not stop caring about the students and staff at West Fargo. Clark said that his heart was still at West Fargo and was watching what was happening with the school with interest and even came to some sporting events. Clark stated that what brought him back was the need of a principal. When the staff at West Fargo started to contact Clark about returning in 2012-2013, Clark realized how much he was needed.
“The thing that probably tugged at my heart more than anything else is when staff members started to contact me asking if I could come back for just one more year,” Clark said.
Supporting Clarks decision to come back after being in retirement for a year was Flowers.
“Mr. Clark bleeds green and white,” Flowers said. “We were fortunate that he was willing to interrupt his much-deserved retirement for major portions of this school year to help.”
Clark knows that he has made the right decision based on the response he has had from the staff and student body.
“The staff has gone out of their way to tell me how much they appreciate me doing this,” Clark said “They made me feel very welcome coming back and the student body has too.”