Recently, the Pinecrest Tribune sent out a call to all Palmetto Senior student alumni. This issue, we’d like to appeal to the former faculty and staff of the school to get involved.

The “Palmetto experience,” after all, wouldn’t be nearly as successful, or as widely copied and envied for that matter, without the faculty and staff’s hands-on guidance all these years. But there are also more practical reasons why it would be great for former faculty and staff back “in the loop” at Palmetto.

First, it would allow Palmetto’s current group of teachers and administrators to draw on years of experience, perhaps even eventually forming an advisory council that could be consulted occasionally for advice on specific issues. It might be an invaluable tool for dealing with crises unfamiliar to the current administration.

Second, much like the traditional Alumni Association allows former classmates to stay in touch or re-establish relationships, incorporating faculty and staff would allow those individuals a means of staying in touch with their former colleagues and students.

Andy Massimino, Palmetto’s student activities director for the past 31 years, was excited about these “practical positives” that would result from such a project.

“It could be an important source for things like reunions, when it’s tough to find everyone in the limited amount of time that we have, and with the limited resources we have on hand,” he said.

But finally, and perhaps most important, former Palmetto faculty and staff members have said time and time again how much pride they took in being a part of the school and lending a little bit, each one of them, towards building the tremendous reputation that Palmetto has today.

Here is a chance to get reacquainted with that feeling, and be able to contribute once again to one of the best high schools in the state of Florida.

To those of you who might have missed the previous article, the proposal to establish an Alumni Association was first made by Janet Hupp, Palmetto’s new principal. Hupp recently came up with the idea and approached the editors of the Tribune about helping to facilitate that process.

“I would love to bring back some of that talent pool, to get more of them to come and give something back to the high school that helped to shape them,” Hupp said.

What excited Hupp the most about the prospect of such was the idea that such a group could serve as advocates for the school.

“We could have a group truly familiar with Palmetto that would be excited about what we’re doing here and what’s already been done. It would be great to have a group like that to stand by us and be protective of the school’s reputation and tradition,” she said.

“Numerous Palmetto teachers and administrators have gone on to hold district wide positions and to have their expertise and influence, along with that of the other, well-respected former faculty and staff members, would be a tremendous asset,” she said.

The subject of an alumni job network also was discussed, both as a means of helping recent graduates to secure good positions, and also helping employers find competent employees. Including former faculty and staff members would only serve to enhance such a program.

Massimino also suggested that the real value of such an organization, however, can be seen from a less practical, more emotional point of view.

“People have been waiting for something like this for years,” he explained. “They haven’t had their memory jogged for so long and so many have gone on to ‘bigger and better’ things. But something like this gets their memories to start coming back, the good things that happened here, and that’ll be so rewarding for them.”

Perhaps most importantly, many people who went to Palmetto, and taught at Palmetto for that matter, have chosen to stay in proximity to the school. Such an organization would give them continued influence in the growth and development of the future leaders of our community.

“People in this community care about education in general and their children’s education in particular,” Hupp said. “There are people who live in Pinecrest just to go to this school. This is an outstanding opportunity to take an active role in those things and would be a valuable outlet for their support, and would lend this school the credibility and backing it deserves.”

Palmetto alumni, faculty and staff who would be interested in such a group should send back the attached form.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Palmetto Senior High graduates and former faculty and staff interested in forming an alumni association should fax the following information to the Pinecrest Tribune at 305-669-4206.

Name:  
Maiden Name:  
Graduating Class:  
If former faculty or staff, please list former position, and from when to when:   
Home Phone:   
Home Fax:       
Home Address: 
Current Occupation:      
Business Address:          
Business Phone: 
Business Fax:  
Interested in becoming a member of steering committee? [  ] Yes   or   [  ] No