Principal Ferguson

So Uncle Dave has always played a game with our kids since the time David became an assistant principal a few years ago. The all line up and pretend to be naughty and then Principal Ferguson (uncle Dave) comes out and yells at them and threatens them if they don't shape up. It's really funny to hear about, and even funnier to watch. The kids love the game and will often refer to David as Principal Ferguson. Well this summer - that became a reality!

Principal Ferguson is now really Principal Ferguson and we are soooo excited! I had been telling him throughout the school year, that this was the year he was going to be promoted. I just had a feeling...I knew it was his time and that he was ready. He insisted that it was not and there was no way to know. He was always very negative, but secretly I know, wanted it to be true. No announcements of change were made at the end of the school year and he became very discouraged that he would be working in the same spot, with the same difficult principal another year. I still held out hope. The end of the summer came and still, no changes announced.

Then one day, we heard a rumor that David's principal was leaving and had found a new job in another district (knowing that the current district was not happy with his job performance, to put it nicely). I saw a light in David's eyes and he was ecstatic when he realized it was true. Timing is always perfect for David. He has been in the right place at the right time throughout his career, and this was no different. I know we have Heavenly Father backing us up at all times. David was currently one of the assistant principals at this middle school in the district, and the principal decided to leave, which meant that the principal job was now available! I just knew that it was all coming together like it was supposed to.

David immediately applied and was selected to have an interview out of 20 applicants (many of which have been principals in the district for many years). There were four people interviewing for two middle school principal positions. He was so excited that he might get to take over the school where he has been an assistant principal for three years now. He loves this school and the community there and had so many great ideas and plans to make it the great place it should be. I knew he was the guy for the job. He waited a couple of weeks to actually have the interview, and the waiting nearly killed him. It was a long end to the summer!

The day of the interview finally came - four days before school started! (And it just so happened to be the same day that I found out that it was going to be my "turn" to serve as PTO President at my kids' school.) The day was very long. David's interview was not until the afternoon and it took a couple of hours. He had a written exam and everything. When he finally called after it was all done, he said he felt really good about it, and couldn't have done any better. I wanted him to come straight home, but it was the middle of a work day. He had to go back to work and wait to hear. The kids and I were at home that day on pins and needles. The phone rang at home and I was just sure it was David calling to tell me he had the job. Someone from the disctrict office asked for David and when I said he was at the school they said they had tried to call there, and his cell phone and could not get a hold of him. They asked me to have him call back just as soon as he could. I was so excited - I could just tell by the tone of his voice that they had selected David for the job. I knew it. I mentioned to the kids that I was sure David got the job, but we were still waiting to hear it from him for sure. Let me tell you....the longest five minutes of my life.

But, five minutes later we got the call from David. He was so excited and the kids and I were screaming and jumping up and down. It was so fun to share the good news and the kids knew how bad David wanted this job. We were so proud of him. They decorated the mirror in our room with cute messages for "Principal Ferguson" and it was really fun to share it with him when he returned home. He was made for this job, I knew it was meant to be. We later found out that the District Office received many letters and emails written on David's behalf, trying to convince them that he should be the new principal at the middle school. People went out of their way for him. He is such a great leader and motivates everyone around him. He is seriously a breath of fresh air for this school. I am so proud of all of his hard work and look forward to all of the great changes that are coming for his school and staff!