Retiring Superintendent Gives Grads ‘Grandfatherly’ Advice

For Ramsey Schools Superintendent Bruce DeYoung, Friday’s graduation ceremony marked the second last time he addressed a graduating class as retiring superintendent.

DeYoung initially retired from the district’s top job in 2005, after 14 years in the role. Last summer, when the district was looking for a replacement for retiring Superintendent Roy Montesano, DeYoung returned to the job in an interim capacity.

Earlier this year, the Board of Education hired RiverVale Superintendent Matthew Murphy to take over in a permanent capacity.

The Board has been publicly appreciative of DeYoung’s brief return, and Friday night Board President Tony Gasparovich reiterated its appreciation at the graduation ceremony.

Crediting DeYoung with leading the district through two teacher contract negotiations, the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system, and new curriculum moves like the iPad initiative, Gasparovich said the district was lucky to have him back for the year. DeYoung received a standing ovation from the crowd.

For his address to the Class of 2013, DeYoung gave students a ten-point list of what he called “grandfatherly advice,” and “ten tips from an old coot.”

An abridged version of the tips he presented students follows:

1. Grow where you are planted
2. When you land a job, make yourself indispensible
3. When opportunity knocks, don’t pretend you aren’t home
4. If you see a problem, try to solve it
5. Never engage in behavior you would not want the public to know about, or your mother to find out about
6. Think before you post anything online
7. Life is too short to let little things bother you
8. Don’t believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see
9. Take the cards you’re dealt, and use them to help make yourself happy
10. Hugs are good medicine

Submit your questions or news tips to jessica.mazzola@patch.com. And, remember to sign up for Ramsey Patch's daily newsletter, and get updates on Facebook and Twitter.