Changing of the Guard

Friday, June 30, was a day full of emotions at Green Forest Elementary School.

It was the final day of work for Danette Chaney, the school’s longtime principal, who began her retirement on July 1. It was also the day the torch was officially passed on to new principal Heather Ogden, a 2002 Green Forest High School graduate who had been with Berryville Schools for many years.

“I came up to the school that afternoon and we spent the rest of (Chaney’s) final afternoon together,” Ogden said. “We walked through the building … and then she gave me her keys and we walked out together. I took a picture of her as she was leaving.”

It was moment that made her think of many memories, Chaney said while beginning her third full week of retirement.

“The last few days were spent trying to tie up loose ends, reminiscing about the years spent within the elementary building, and checking off bucket list items that I might not have completed such as driving a big yellow school bus,” Chaney said. “On the last day, several coworkers came to visit to wish me farewell so I had plenty mixed emotions. The school has not only been a place to work it has been my home away from home. The staff members are my extended family.

“Turning the keys over to Ms. Ogden should have been the easiest task but it wasn’t. It was the final step of letting go.”

Being handed those keys brought many feelings to Ogden as well, she said.

“There were a lot of emotions,” Ogden said. “I was excited, I was a little scared and nervous, but there was a lot of peace, blissfully unaware.

“Someone told me the other day that I was blissfully unaware right now of what I’m getting ready to start. I know, but I love it. I’m really excited.”

While Ogden’s first official day as elementary principal was July 3, she has been working alongside Chaney off and on since April. That gave her plenty of time to learn the ropes from Chaney.

“Mrs. Chaney has been so wonderful,” Ogden said. “My first day was in April and we started working, I went over and met the teachers and she showed me how to use all the programs and we toured the school. She showed me how to do a fire drill and has been such a good mentor during this and that has really taken some of the pressure off of me.”

FULL CIRCLE

Ogden attended schools in Green Forest starting in kindergarten, graduated in 2002, and attended College of the Ozarks where she earned bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education. That initially led to a long-term substitute position at Berryville.

“I’ve spent the past 16 years in Berryville,” Ogden said. “I taught kindergarten for 12 years and the past four years I have served as an instructional facilitator.”

Teaching and being a facilitator was something Ogden was passionate about so it wasn’t until recent years that she had the urge to get into administration.

“Five years ago, I would’ve said no, I didn’t want to be a principal,” she said. “But then I knew I wanted to do something in admin … so I started looking into different admin programs.”

Ogden was accepted into the Impact Fellowship program through the University of Arkansas, where she earned a degree in education leadership.

“It was really through this program where I learned how to work with adults and just really the impact that principals can have,” she said. “Then I was like ‘you know what? I really think I’d like to do this.’” Returning to lead the school where she started her educational journey wasn’t initially on Ogden’s radar after completing the leadership program, she said.

“I didn’t know that Mrs. Chaney was going to retire,” she said. “And when she announced that she would be, I thought, ‘oh, that might be something,’ and then I had people reach out to me telling me I should try for it. I prayed about it for a really long time and it took me a little bit to apply. But, when I did and when I went to interview, everyone there was just so wonderful. The admin staff that I interviewed with made me feel at home and so comfortable and I knew this was really where I would love to be.

“So, when I was offered the position, I didn’t even hesitate. I was just so excited to accept it.”

As excited as she was about her new role, leaving Berryville wasn’t easy, Ogden said.

“It was very bittersweet,” she said. “The people, teachers, staff, students, at Berryville … I had been there 16 years so there were definitely some tears shed when I had to say goodbye to them. It was hard. I love Berryville, but this was just an opportunity to grow as a leader.

“I had some great students at Berryville. Some I had from 5 years old are now up in their 20s. I’m glad that I am still local and I’ll be able to check on them. I wanted to make sure my students that were in kindergarten, I want to make sure they are doing OK in first grade at Berryville. I’ll be checking in.”

REPLACING ‘LEGENDARY’ Hearing she has “big shoes to fill” in taking over for Chaney is something Ogden is used to. In fact, she couldn’t agree more.

“Absolutely [it’s true], because I mean, she’s legendary,” Ogden said of replacing Chaney. “When I went over to the school you could just see how much everybody loved her. So, definitely puts a little bit of pressure on me.”

Chaney has even helped her with some of that pressure, Ogden said.

“After we worked together for a few months, she told me that she thought we were a lot alike and she felt this would be an easy transition for the school,” Ogden said. “She said she thought our values and what we feel are important for the school are very much aligned. She told me that I was going to do great and to just be myself. That has really helped.”

When the school year gets underway Ogden said she will look at how things are working based on what was instituted under Chaney’s leadership, something she said she admires.

“I think they’re doing some fabulous things that are reinforcing the elementary school,” Ogden said. “They are doing some wonderful things. So, my goal for the first year is really to learn and kind of reflect as the year goes and not make any major changes.

“I don’t want to change something that’s already working. Watch, reflect and really re-evaluate at the end of the year to see if there are changes that need to be made.”

Until that time comes, Ogden is excited to count down the days until students fill the halls and classrooms and her first year as a principal begins.

“I’m really excited to meet the students,” Ogden said. “I took a yearbook home the other day to look over so I can put some names and faces together. Teachers are starting to come up and work and that’s nice to be able to also meet and get to know them better.”

Chaney feels Ogden’s familiarity with the district will be a benefit.

“Ms. Ogden is a former Green Forest graduate,” Chaney said. “She will be dedicated to the district and will do her best to make the elementary school a success.”

For Chaney, she said she’s getting used to not having to use an alarm clock to get up each morning as she navigates a new world without daily doses of Green Forest Elementary.

“I’m already asking what day it is, if that is a good sign,” Chaney said of her retirement. “I am no longer setting multiple alarms to keep me on schedule. I can finally let myself relax and enjoy time spent with family without worrying about school.”

When the school year starts in a few weeks, Chaney said missing the students will be something that will be unavoidable.

“There is no doubt that I will miss the kids the most,” Chaney said. “One of the best parts of my position at the school was building the relationships with the students and their families.

“I have worked in the Green Forest School District for 28 and a half years. I have been a teacher in kindergarten, first grade, third grade, a Title I teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal. I am also a graduate of Green Forest. I have spent a majority of my life being a member of the Tiger Family. I may be retired but I will always be a Tiger wherever I am.”