O’Leary retiring as district principal

After 33 years with the Rainy River District School Board, Jerry O’Leary is calling it quits.
At 53, O’Leary is using the “85 factor” (age plus experience) to retire and pursue other interests.
Always busy, O’Leary currently is the principal at three schools–the Sturgeon Creek School in Barwick, Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program in Stratton, and Nestor Falls School.
Oh, and he’s also mayor of the newly-amalgamated Municipality of Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls.
“I’ll definitely miss it but it’s time to move on to the next phase . . . marriage,” laughed O’Leary.
O’Leary first became principal in 1974. “I started off at Nestor Falls and then I was out at the old Cornerbrook school in Devlin,” he recalled.
Now, he is downplaying his retirement and even referred to himself as “an old fossil” as he finishes his final semester with the local public school board.
“I got up this morning, poured my morning coffee, and stuck my finger in my cup. And when I pulled it out, there was no hole . . . that’s what’s going to happen,” he said.
But with his energy, tenacity, and good humour, O’Leary is likely to be missed.
“Oh yeah very much, he makes a great principal,” said Nestor Falls teacher Sharon Kropelin. “He’s terrific [and] the kids like him a lot.”
As mayor, O’Leary still is likely to be following a hectic schedule.
“It’s just a different interest now,” he said. “I find this stuff challenging but it’s interesting.”