Through the years as the one giving the final words during commencement for the graduating class at Bridgeport High School, Principal Matt DeMotto has been known to share a story with a meaning.

 

The past couple of years he had shared a conversation between an old Cherokee chief and the chief’s grandson about the struggles in fighting one’s inner wolf.

 

Just last weekend, DeMotto’s parting message included a story about a farmer navigating good and bad moments in one’s life and not letting either get you too high or too low.

 

“It’s funny, we were driving home one day about a month ago and he told me that same story about the farmer,” said Quinn DeMotto, a member of the BHS Class of 2023 and youngest son of Principal DeMotto. “It’s a great message but I figured I would be hearing it again at graduation.”

 

Early previews of inspirational speeches just begin to touch the surface of what goes into being a student whose father is the principal of his school or the emotions of being a principal dealing with his youngest son receiving his diploma.

 

“The first thing running through my mind is I have a professional responsibility so it’s a little bit different for me,” Matt DeMotto said. “I can’t enjoy it the same way the average parent can.

 

“And at the same time, I can’t avoid pausing and reflecting and then the emotion comes to the surface. It’s a great day. All parents are proud of their young people. I’m extremely proud of Quinn. He’s a hard worker and he’s earned everything he has earned.”

 

A few days after the 2023 commencement, DeMotto informed the BHS staff that he would be retiring. That decision was likely heavy on his mind during the graduation ceremony. However, DeMotto has never been one to take any limelight away from the BHS students or staff.

 

He did take time to thank his wife, Stacey, and their two sons, Quinn and Carson, for being understanding in regard to the time and passion that goes into being an administrator (he was named principal at BHS in 2018 after a long stint as assistant principal and athletic director) but the graduation ceremony was for the outgoing BHS seniors first and foremost as they closed a chapter of their lives and began to write a new one.

 

Graduation is an emotional moment for any parent with any of their children and Principal DeMotto certainly experienced many of those same emotions when Carson graduated a few years ago. Yet, when it is time for a family’s youngest child to be handed a diploma and toss their cap in the air, it comes with a whole new set of feelings.

 

“I think most of our parents would agree that when it’s the last in line, it is a little different,” Principal DeMotto said. “It’s a little more emotional. You’ve made a few more trips around the sun. There are a lot of things you think about.”

 

To say Quinn DeMotto had a memorable senior year would be underselling it.

 

He was a standout center for the football team, he had a well-received starring role in the senior play, “Bright Star,” he was one of the state’s first two Greg Reed Memorial Leadership Scholarship winners, he graduated with a summa cum laude distinction (cumulative grade point average of 3.95 or higher) and will go on to college at Clemson University.

 

“Quinn was a little guy who found a way to succeed on the football field,” Matt DeMotto said. “We recently learned he could sing a little bit too and act. That’s something he has always wanted to do. Theatre is something he’s always valued.

 

“When you have a student who will sit down two to three hours studying most nights, as a principal you start to learn that those kids really challenge themselves to excel and succeed. It’s not because they are smart necessarily, it’s because they work at it. You have to work hard in this life no matter what you do.

 

“We have a lot of students who do that and I’m very proud that one of those students is my son.”

 

It’s probably a worthwhile debate between if it is more difficult being a student whose principal is also a parent, or a parent who is principal at a school where one of their children attends.

 

“It’s definitely not easy,” Quinn said. “But I tell you what, it does teach you how to have thick skin. It teaches you to take things and roll with the punches.

 

“Just some of the things he has told me, I can’t imagine the stuff he goes through, dealing with the people, the stress. I definitely have a lot of respect for him. When I hear things, I just roll with it because I know he doesn’t deserve it. He works so hard.

 

“He does a great job of not showing it, but it would take a toll on anybody. He does an excellent job. I’m so appreciative of him and everything he has done for me.

 

“I’ve always loved my Dad. It’s going to be nice not having that extra pressure on me next year but I’m going to miss being here with him.”

 

Editor's Note: Top three photos show Principal DeMotto congratulating his youngest son Quinn as he received his diploma. Bottom photo is of the DeMotto family (from left to right) Matt, Quinn, Stacey and Carson.