Photo by Chuck Garvin
This article appeared in the Register-Herald on July 6, 2001. The photo to the left was taken from the 1957 Echo.
By Jeri S. Bowles
She will be missed - by students, teachers and parents alike. But Bradley Elementary is proud to have its principal, Janet Lilly, named assistant superintendent for elementary education in Raleigh County.
Lilly will fill the position left vacant by new Superintendent Charlotte Hutchens.
With more than 28 years of elementary education experience, Lilly will have the opportunity to expand her organizational and leadership talents to all 21 of the county's elementary schools.
"I'm sure with all the elements of her experience - and she has done a lot of wonderful things at Bradley Elementary - we look forward to her being able to do those things county-wide," Hutchens said.
With elementary education as her prime responsibility, Lilly's strength and knowledge of curriculum and programs will serve the county well, officials say.
"She has such a wonderful grasp of curriculum and successful educational programs," said Robin Wartella, a fifth-grade teacher at Bradley. "She has encouraged us to go for national awards, to write for educational grants and to learn new teaching strategies. And she has a very successful relationship with the parents of this school.
"At Bradley Elementary we are really going to miss her. But she will be a wonderful addition for the county.
"Everyone will benefit from having her in that position."
Lilly was principal of the third largest school in the county - more than 600 children - behind Woodrow Wilson High School and Beckley-Stratton Junior High.
One of Lilly's heartfelt philosophies is that every child can learn; teachers just have to figure out how to make that happen.
"She truly believes that," Wartella said. "She likes to bring teachers a lot of different approaches to teaching and learning so teachers are kept current - so we don't get stagnant - so every child can learn."
Lilly is a firm believer in setting high expectations for children, parents, teachers and administrators.
"Even though 55.2 percent of our families live in poverty, we must still have high expectations," Lilly said. "We must say, OK, but we are going to expect those children to succeed in school, go on to college and be active members of our community and contribute. They must help us provide jobs to keep people in southern West Virginia. "All of these things are vitally important."
If people don't know how to set high expectations, training is the answer, Lilly said.
"If parents don't know how, then we will look at training parents. If teachers don't know how to do something, then we will train teachers."