High school principal to say good-bye next Friday

Published Sunday, March 23, 2008

By Brandon Evans

After devoting most of his professional life to education, Chico High School principal Melvin Clay plans to begin pursuing a different path.

Clay recently announced his retirement as principal of Chico High School. His final day will be next Friday. Elementary school principal Russell Black will take over the position at the high school. The Chico School Board is seeking a new elementary school principal.

"I'm retiring," Clay said. "It was time. I was offered a real good position back in the oil field."

Clay, who is 58, will soon begin working as a sales associate for Complete Production Services, one of the nation's leading oil and gas field providers. The new position allows Clay to set his own hours and pace, which he said he needs due to a year rife with personal health problems.

"I chose to retire because of my health," Clay said. "This year I've suffered from heart problems, had a new knee put in and this week I'm having an area affected by skin cancer removed."

Clay already holds a wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry. He worked for Halliburton for 12 years before entering education.

He entered the field of public education in 1990. Ten of those years were spent teaching at Bridgeport ISD. The last four years he has been principal at Chico High School.

During that time, he worked a lot with Pete Hart, Chico ISD's athletic director and head football coach.

"He has been a great principal," Hart said. "He was great to work with, and he is in it for the kids. He has been a strong supporter of all the programs, academic and extracurricular. It's a big loss.

"I've seen kids come to him with problems, and he always has time to help them. I hate to see him go."

Hart also said Clay has provided a positive and compassionate Christian influence in the high school. That should come as no surprise since Clay has been a preacher for the past 20 years. He currently preaches at Cundiff Baptist Church in Jack County. That is where Clay held his first revival two decades ago.

Clay said preaching to a congregation and working with children in school go "side-by-side."

Although Clay is happy to be able to focus more on his preaching and have more flexible work hours, he is sad to leave Chico ISD.

"I couldn't have worked with a better man than Pete Hart," Clay said. "He has been a very dear friend, and he is good for the education system. He has really helped build the character of the students he works with.

"Superintendent Tom Ferguson gave me the chance to do what I do best. He's been a great supervisor to work with, along with the present school board members.

"The Chico school district is as good a school district as there is in Wise County. There are good, solid kids here."