STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

“I’m gonna really, really miss this place and miss the kids and the staff and the families that I’ve been able to work with over the past years.” – Arty Tillett

“Oh, this is just a dream for me.” – Tim Albert

“It will be different for me, but I am looking forward to the challenge.” – Diane Childress

Having your birthday fall on a school day sounds like a stroke of bad luck. Maybe that’s why Principal Arty Tillett decided to deliver a “birthday pencil” with a special message inscribed on its side every day to each student who had a birthday during the school year.

When word got out Wednesday that Tillett would no longer be the principal at First Flight High School, the question on many students’ minds was: “What’s going to happen to birthday pencils?!”

“My hope is my replacement will continue that tradition,” said Tillet, the new Director of Secondary Instruction and Human Resources for Dare County Schools. “I’ve got ’em right here for him, and he and I are going to meet next week and discuss the transition. So I’m hopeful he continues the birthday pencils. I would hate to see that go away.”

Tillett’s replacement will be former First Flight Middle School Principal Tim Albert. Albert worked at the middle school for seven years as assistant principal before becoming the principal in 2014.

“Oh, this is just a dream for me,” Albert said. “When I came down here nine years ago, Mr. Tillett was one of the ones who really guided and directed me on the culture of the community and the people and how things go around Dare County, especially the First Flight family. He made me comfortable, and he made me feel welcomed.”

Both administrators plan on a smooth transition, and Tillett only has high praise for Albert.

“I have a lot of respect for him as an educator,” Tillett said. “He’s a great guy, he’s totally kid-focused, extremely well-experienced, so I’m excited about working with him now as he follows me to First Flight High.”

Administrative intern Drew Sawyer also will be leaving First Flight to become the principal of Manteo Middle School. Taking his place is Diane Childress, who has taught at Kitty Hawk Elementary School since 2003. Current Assistant Principal Caroline Pearce will remain at First Flight.

“We are very pleased with that decision as well,” Tillett said of Childress’ arrival. “It’s gonna be a really good team. In addition to that, Ms. Pearce is staying, so that gives me a lot of comfort to know that she’s there and we will continue with some stability so it won’t be an all new administrative staff. We are leaving First Flight in good shape and in good hands.”

For Childress, this promotion is one worth waiting for. The third-grade teacher has been working at the same school for about 15 years and is excited for a change of pace.

“It feels really exciting because this is something that I’ve been trying to work for for the past three or four years,” Childress said. “I got my master’s in administration in 2013 from ECU and have interviewed every year (for an administrative position).”

As for shifting from an elementary school teacher to a high school administrator, she is ready for the transition.

“High schoolers are a great age group,” Childress said. “It will be different for me, but I am looking forward to the challenge. It will be a very different place to change the life of a child, but I am ready for it.”

There may be many new changes coming to First Flight in the coming school year, but one thing is for sure — the tradition of birthday pencils will continue.

“That’s a no-brainer. The birthday pencils will stay,” Albert said. “I’m not a real smart guy, but I’m smart enough to know not to mess up good things, that’s for sure. That’s my job this year — to try to not mess anything up.”

Tillett said he will miss that daily interaction with students: The promotion is exciting, but also bittersweet for someone who guided the last 10 graduating classes at FFHS.

“I was fighting back tears for a few weeks now, just the thought of this being my last graduation, my last meeting with seniors, my last faculty meeting,” Tillett said. “I’ve been in school for my whole life, just about. So, life without school is a foreign concept to me. It’s just been a full range of emotions, quite honestly. I’m gonna really, really miss this place and miss the kids and the staff and the families that I’ve been able to work with over the past years.”

Senior Mary Pat Thompson can be reached at thompsonma1001@daretolearn.org.