Camp Creek Principal: 'I Have Been Truly Blessed'

Some people go an entire lifetime, and never know the meaning of it. Kathy Jones, however, isn't one of those people.

By second grade, she'd pretty much figured it out -- she would be a teacher. That would be her life's mission.

She started off playing teacher in her parents' garage, writing on a chalk board, facing an audience of imaginary students.

"So, finally, when I became a teacher, it was just fabulous," said Jones, the first of her siblings to graduate college.

At the age of 21, she began her career at Annistown Elementary. Over the course of her career, she rose from teacher to assistant principal to principal at several different schools.

She is currently the principal at Camp Creek Elementary in Lilburn.

After 32 years, though, Jones is ending that chapter. She's looking forward to more time with family, and new ways to challenge herself in retirement.

"There will be a first time for something else," she mused.

Identity Crisis

For so long being an educator has been her identity -- what she does and who she is.

"When people ask what do you do? Who are you? I'm a principal, and now I don't know what I'm going to say," she said. "I'm a mom, and that's about it."

And, that's OK.

Her children, now 19, 15 and 14 have had to share their mother for years with the children at her schools. Sometimes her children slept in her office, waiting for mom to get off work.

Next year she won't end up missing their first day of school, like she normally does, and that will be just fine by her. She might even drive them there.

She also will get to spend more time with her husband of 29 years.

Being an educator, however, will always have a special place in heart. She was made for it -- a high achiever, who also happens to be kind and truly cares about others. 

Final Decision

But, when it's time to go, it's time to go. Someone else should get the chance she's had, Jones believes.

Ironically, it was the Connecticut elementary school shooting in December that brought her to her final decision to retire.

She knows she would have done the same thing that Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung did for Sandy Hook Elementary, when she lounged at the deranged gunman in an effort to stop him.

The tragic event highlighted that life is short, and that family is important. That no one gets time back.

Of course, she'll miss the students, friends and colleagues she worked with, but she'll always have her memories.

"I have been truly blessed to be here and honored to have been the one chosen to be here," Jones said. "I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

"I think people are placed where they should be in life, and this is where I was supposed to be, but now, I'm supposed to be somewhere else.

"I just feel a tug. Don't know where I'm going, but I know it's going to be great wherever it is."

See also:

• Camp Creek Elementary Gets New Principal
• Principal Spotlight: Kathy Jones, Camp Creek Elementary