They say things in life often go full circle. Vicki Huffman’s case is proof that is true.

 

Huffman, who began her student teaching at Johnson Elementary in 1983-84, will end her teaching career at the same school. This past week Huffman informed her staff that this year – her 38^th in the world of education – will be her last.

 

How long has that been at JES?

 

For every single current student in the Bridgeport education system who went through Johnson Elementary School, they can associate Huffman with the position.  She has been there for 17 of those 38 years.

 

Huffman becomes the third principal out of four city public schools to announce their retirement or departure in the last few months. Bridgeport Middle School Principal David Mazza left in December to become the assistant principal and athletic director at Liberty High School, while Simpson Elementary Principal Jill Steele publicly announced this would be her final year last month.

 

Like the other two, the decision did not rest with being tired of the job or no longer loving what they did. Rather, Huffman’s decision had the key element of time involved.

 

“I didn’t go in thinking I was retiring at the start of this year because I could have retired six year ago,” said Huffman. “Family is my number one priority and my mom is turning 90 this summer. I don’t want to regret not being able to do things with her.

 

“My son (Tyler) is in the Air Force in Hawaii too. I get to see him, but I have to go around the school schedule,” she continued. “I want to visit when he wants me there or I want to go, and now is the time for that to happen.”

 

Getting to this point may not have been in Huffman’s mind as a 1980 graduate of South Harrison. It may not have been there when she graduated from then Fairmont State College in 1984. Huffman managed to earn a degree at FSC in elementary education and, at the same time, became a NAIA All-American on the women’s basketball team, and later a selection to the Fairmont State Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

After leaving the Marion County campus, her educational journey began. It is one that has her with a Master’s Degree from then Salem-Teikyo University along with 93 extra hours including certifications of every kind. Yet, it all started as a student teacher at JES.

 

After that, she began her professional career with her first substitute job at Harden Elementary in Salem. She subbed all over Harrison County for two years – missing only three days during that time period.

 

Following the substitute gig, Huffman, began as a full-time elementary school teacher. She taught at the entry level for students for 15 years before heading to the front office at the Harrison County Board of Education.

 

From 1999 to 2006, Huffman served as the county’s extracurricular education director for elementary schools. It was not long into that job when the itch to return to the schools hit.

 

“It boiled down to me missing the kids,” said Huffman. “I wanted to get back into a job where I worked with the kids all the time.”

 

The opportunity arose as she wrapped up her front office responsibilities in 2006. She became the assistant principal at Johnson, most of which was under Dennis Stromberg. She worked briefly under Principal Barry Buffington who came in when Stromberg took over at Norwood Elementary when that school’s principal had medical leave.

 

“When Dennis came back within the next year, Barry officially retired,” said Huffman.

 

And so, the 17-year run began. It is run that will end in June.

 

“I’ve never regretted any of my decisions, and I’ve loved every job I’ve had because I commit myself to the job and the work,” she said. “It comes down to my heart always being with the children. You hear it all the time, but you just hope to make a small difference in someone’s life. If you can, even one, everything is worth it.”

 

When asked if she thought such was the case, Huffman recalled a situation involving a past student who was interviewing for a position with her brother Wayne’s Bridgeport-based construction business, Huffman Corporation.

 

“During the interview he made a comment to my brother that I had impacted his life, and I never knew that or had heard it. He said it was how I disciplined him with words,” she said. “It was along the lines of I knew he could do better than what he was doing and expected him to do better and he had the choice. If you choose good things then good things, good things happen. If you choose bad things, bad thing will happen, but it was important to know it was up to him.

 

“That stuck with him from the time he was in elementary school, so it made me feel really good, and really old,” Huffman continued with a laugh. “You hope you can make a difference somewhere with someone and we have 700 kids here and myself and my wonderful staff try to make that possible with a fun nurturing environment.”

 

Huffman said those going through JES are there for usually seven years starting with pre-school, where the middle school gets students for three years and the high school seven. She said the length of time helps in one important aspect.

 

“We treat the children as if they were our own, and we love them, and provide resources to help make them successful and learn,” said Huffman. “We want them to know they can count on us.”

 

The Harrison County School board counted on Huffman, Assistant Principal Heather Holbert, and the rest of the JES staff in a big way heading into 2018. She led the transition from the old Johnson Elementary School into the new one – and it was among the most memorable stretches of her 38-year tenure.

 

“That was an adventure,” she said. “It changed the entire culture of the school, but I still remember getting started and the logistics of getting everything in place. You may move into a new building, but that doesn’t mean everything inside is new. It does mean that you have new procedures for just about everything from parking to bus loops and getting kids used to where they were going. We’re pretty settled in now.”

 

Huffman will be settled in until the end of June. She will be saying goodbyes to students and then, finally, her staff.

 

“I let the staff know of my decision before anyone else because they’re that important to me,” said Huffman. “I spend so much time with some of the best professionals in education and they’re my family.”

 

While that goodbye is just months away, it also is not necessarily permanent either. She plans on being a substitute, either as a teacher or perhaps an administrator as needed.

 

“I’m leaving the door open for anything, including the administrative side of things, wherever I’m needed but preferably at Johnson,” she said. “At the same time, I’m going to protect my days and my time, or I wouldn’t retire.”

 

Retirement is just around the corner. With it comes a new phase in her life after nearly four decades in the education business.

 

“I know I will get emotional when those final days come because I’m leaving people I love. I sent my staff a thing (when I told them) about how lucky I am to have something where saying goodbye becomes so hard and it shows Winnie the Pooh and Piglet walking into the sunset,” said Huffman. “Some people aren’t fortunate to have that, and they’re angry when they leave their job. I still love what I’m doing and will until the final day.”

 

Here is to plenty of spectacular sunsets as the sun sets on your career.  

 

Editor's Note: Photos show Vicki Huffman during various stages of her career including the second photo with her educational partner and Assistant Principal Heather Holbert in the second photo, while she's shown with Holbert and former Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin in the bottom photo after receiving funding for the new Johnson Elementary School.