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Career Educator: Sharing Memories with Glenn Fay

photo provided Glenn Fay's career spanned thirty-five years and touched the lives of thousands of children in Vermont and New England.

photo provided Third class signalman Glenn Fay was in California in 1945 when VJ Day was announced ending World War II.

Tuesday August 25, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

    Glenn Fay’s father always used to tell him, “When you go into town, always have 50 cents in your pocket, and be half an hour early.” This seemed a bit preposterous to Glenn at the time who never seemed to have fifty cents, but the lesson of bring prepared at all times took and stood him well in life and in his distinguished career in education. When Glenn Fay took over a school as a principal, “He knew his job was to get to know the parents, showcase the school and the children, and hire the best teachers possible to provide an outstanding education for all in his charge.” With this as his goal, Glenn Fay lived out his passion for youth and education that spanned thirty-five years, two New England states and more than seven different school districts.

    Born in Brandon on November 5, 1926, Glenn was not always destined for his career in education. He attended Brandon schools and moved with his parents when he was twelve to Vergennes, where he developed a passion for music, history, English, basketball and baseball. “I thought I was a good athlete,” remarked Glenn about that period in his life. “I wanted to go to Springfield College, but like so many of my time, I enlisted right out of high school and entered the Navy when I was seventeen. From there I went to boot camp and Signalman School in Samson, New York and was assigned to the USS Hickox (DD673), which was a Fletcher Class Destroyer and patrolled the coastline of California, protecting not only coastline, but oil rigs and shipments of oil for refueling and convoys. Then came the dropping of the atomic bombs in 1945 and I was in San Francisco when word came of victory in Japan. Returning across country, we were soon discharged after that.”

    Glenn made use of his GI Bill benefits and attended the University of Vermont earning a Bachelors Degree with a concentration in English and minors in Secondary Education and Psychology. After completing his student teaching at his old alma mater Vergennes High School, Glenn returned to Brandon High School and began his distinguished career in education. He taught seven classes of 30 students each for $ 1500.00 a year and his coaching of varsity basketball netted him an additional $ 100.00 a year. He married Virginia Field Powers of Vergennes that Thanksgiving in her grandmother’s parlor and the couple settled in Brandon in a small home they built themselves.

    While Glenn could have seen himself staying in Brandon for his career, fate intervened and began his journey in education that would cover several states and impact many different schools. Just five years after starting at Brandon, Glenn was offered what he termed, “The two most unlikely positions you have ever seen; as Head of Guidance and Assistant Principal of Windsor High School.” While living and working in the Windsor area Glenn carpooled with other educators to UVM in Burlington to complete his Masters Degree.

       As fate would again have it, Glenn ran into Bill Logan, the Superintendent of Schools of Burlington at the time who told him of a new two million dollar school that was being opened in Burlington. After much discussion and thought, Glenn accepted the position of principal at the brand new Lyman C. Hunt Jr. High School facility and moved the family to the Burlington area. Those years proved to be pivotal for not only Glenn and the students but the district as well due to the many new innovations and changes that were occurring in education at that time. Glenn recalled some advice given to him by his own high school principal Jim Berry, in Vergennes. This advice served him well in this new phase of his career. Principal Berry reminded him, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, then don’t say anything at all.”

      Burlington tax payers voted in 1963 to create a new high school and Glenn was again asked to be the first principal of that new complex. Working for most of 1963 with the design teams and architect firms, Glenn not only oversaw construction and staffing, but ushered in the first new class of students in 1964. Glenn and his family now included four children, Glenn Jr., Suzanne, Jonathan and Victoria.When you speak to Glenn about those years, the animation and enthusiasm is still hard for him to contain even now. “I started a new program at Burlington High School that first year called ASPIRE, which was A Student Plan Innovative Research Experiment and for its time was very radical. With the help of assistant principal Fred Tuttle and others we wrote and received a federal grant for $ 100,000 designed to target the students who didn’t want to attend school or could not succeed in the traditional setting. There were twelve students in that first year and the program was taught at night and was often away from the school and standard school protocols. With two teachers and student input, we created curriculum tailored to the learning styles and needs of the student.  For example, one field trip took the students to the Okeefenokee Swamp in Florida and studied swamp life. I am happy to report that ASPIRE is very much alive and well today for students at Burlington High School.”

    In 1992, Virginia fell victim to cancer in January, sadly for the family and friends. Glenn married Mary Badger Reese in October of 2002 to finish their retirement years together, supporting their Church, library and scholarship missions.

    His career path led him to an eight year Superintendency of a 2400 Pupil Masconomet School in Massachusetts and seven years as Superintendent of the Essex Junction Schools in Vermont, while receiving many accolades and awards during the years. At the Massachusetts School where all Teachers and Administrators were on “Merit” Pay Schedules, Glenn helped raise funds from individual donors to build and license an FM radio station, which was on the air four hours a day with school news and sports. However, for Glenn it was always about serving the needs of the students and ensuring that the quality of education they received was always moving forward and increasing in its levels of excellence.

    When not in the classroom Glenn was found attending games of his students and children, or in his workshop making clocks and unique pieces of furniture. An avid community supporter, he has since his retirement served as a trustee for the Vergennes Bixby Library and the Congregational Church in Vergennes. Coupled with his love of writing, crosswords and people, Glenn continues to be a strong part of his community and a member of American Legion Post #14.  As you question Glenn about his years in education, his face lights up as he shares stories of the students, teachers and administrators who were a part of his journey. “Kids are kids no matter where they live,” he remarked. “My own kids were worried if we left Vermont there would be strange kids at our new location. They found that what makes a child a child does not change from state to state. It is about seeing each as an individual and accepting nothing less than excellence for them.” The staff of the Valley Voice salutes the career and contributions of this educator who over thirty-five years touched thousands of lives all over New England and never accepted anything less than their best.

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