Mark Shipp retires from multiple Carbon County School District No. 2 locations
Saratoga resident Mark Shipp has been making his work commute to the north Carbon County towns of Hanna, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow for seven years.
Is he a traveling salesman of some sort?
No. He is the elementary school principal for all three towns–and after this May his commute to the schools will be over. He is retiring.
"Mark has been principal since I have been here," Jim Copeland, Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) superintendent said. "Mark is a great individual to work with because he cares about the kids, is good with technology knowledge which has helped the north end of our district. And managing three different campuses at three different locations, no matter the size is always a challenge."
Shipp was honored for his years at the CCSD2 board meeting on May 21.
The tri-principal is going to be missed by many of the staff at all three schools.
"Mr. Shipp is one of the kindest individuals that I have ever met. It is evident every day that he is in it for the kids." Kyle Warren, Hanna Elementary School (HES) Kindergarten teacher, said. "His positive attitude and great sense of humor is contagious. I appreciate all the things that he has done to help me grow as a teacher and will miss him very much."
Shipp was a teacher in Saratoga when he first came to Carbon County in 2004. He taught four different grades while at Saratoga. He has always worked with education in some way. Shipp got his education degree from University of Northern Colorado and masters in Instructional Technology from Utah State. He got his principal certification from the University of Wyoming.
Shipp said when he graduated, the first teaching job offer came from Lyman, Wyoming. Lyman is not only remembered for the place of his first job, it is also where he met his wife, Donna.
The couple left Lyman and moved to Colorado for a couple of years. The pair then moved back to Wyoming to teach in Kemmerer, where he taught for 18 years. He went into the private sector for a few years-still working with educational material.
He said the travel that came with the job became straining. The Shipp family moved to Saratoga and the future principal took a job teaching Kindergarten.
He said it was great to be back teaching kids after the absence.
"Mark has a big heart. He has always worked hard to make sure we are thinking about the kids in all that we do to ensure they have a great experience at school," Chelsea DeWitt, Medicine Bow Elementary School (MBES) 4th to 6th grade teacher, said. "We will miss him but wish him well in his new adventures."
Another job he had in the school district before becoming principal at the three schools in northern Carbon County, was being the Saratoga High School interventionist for one year when there was funding available for the position.
"It was a one year program when they got money from SIG (School Improvement Grants) where I would look at data and identify kids that might benefit from a little extra help and maybe help teachers how to work with those students and give them ideas on how to help the students," Shipp said, "It is something they do when they have extra funding, but it usually disappears pretty quick."
Shipp said he is not the first principal to work in the school system in northern Carbon county. He said since the high school in Medicine Bow closed, CCSD2 has had one principal running the three schools.
Shipp gives credit to the staff of all three campuses.
"The good thing, for the most part, the schools are pretty self sufficient and we are blessed with great people and kids, plus excellent support from families," Shipp said.
Shipp is well respected by the staff he works with.
"Mark is kind, genuine, and is a man who loves the students he works with each day. He has helped me grow as a teacher, and I looking forward to our business adventure in years to come." Jackie Jones, 6th grade teacher at HES said.
Shipp said he made a point of touching base with all the schools constantly, even when he was on another campus. He is remembered by many for his constant attention to the school children and staff.
"Five years ago Mark hired me to be the secretary at Medicine Bow Elementary and in doing so he gave me the gift of being able to spend every day with my kids and I will be forever thankful to him for that gift, not all working mothers are that lucky," Courtney Priest said. "Mark always put the students first. He will be greatly missed and I wish him nothing but good things in retirement."
The kind words of many that worked with him are reciprocated by Shipp.
"I look up to the staff and teachers at each school, having been a teacher myself, I know they are on the front lines," Shipp said. "That is why I want to help them in any way I can."
The support he has given is appreciated.
"Mark is an outstanding individual who is committed to the growth and well being of each person he comes into contact with," Kenzie Strauch, HES 5th Grade teacher said. "It's been an amazing opportunity to work with Mark and to be with someone who truly cherishes the students and staff of HES."
Now that he is leaving, Shipp said there will be certain characteristics he will miss from each school.
At HES he said he will miss the tradition of getting the students together in an assembly and going over what the month will bring. He felt it allowed the students to bond with him. Not only the students, but also the staff.
"Working with Mark Shipp has been a privilege," Mary George, HES secretary said. "I would like to thank him for being a great boss and friend. His kindness and humor will be greatly missed."
He said HES will be remembered because of the strong team effort of the teachers and staff to make the school conducive to learning. The HES building is only a couple years old and he said the staff had strong input as it was being designed. Many of the staff feel Shipp is the catalyst for the collaboration at HES.
"Mark cares deeply about his students and his schools. He supports all areas of the students' education; he really wants us all to succeed, students and staff alike." said Kit Felton, HES K-6 Music, Band, and Art teacher. "We will miss him greatly."
At Elk Mountain Elementary School (EMES) Shipp said he will miss the support the community gives to the school.
"Community involvement is great in all three schools, but here it is a little bit special," Shipp said. "The amount of effort Elk Mountain puts into the pumpkin patch event every year and the amount of money they raise for us is excellent."
He also enjoyed how comfortable parents were in coming to the school to interact with the staff. Shipp said of any place he has ever lived, never has he felt that a school was the center of the community the way EMES is to the town.
"Mark Shipp is one of the kindest people I have ever known and it has been a pleasure working with him," Judy Christopherson, secretary at EMES said. "I will miss him."
At Medicine Bow Elementary School (MBES) he will miss the activeness of staff and students.
"There is always so much energy going in that campus," Shipp said. He attributes it the staff. Many of the staff credit Shipp for fostering the energetic environment and wish him the best.
"I wish Mr. Shipp a fantastic and wonderful retirement and my wish for him is that he will enjoy this adventure and always remember to live life to it's fullest," Shelly Cooper, MBES K-2 teacher said. "Mark is a lifelong learner and is always ready to try something new, so I wish him the best of luck and for him to enjoy the next chapter of his life."
Several educators teach at several campuses and appreciated Shipp's support.
"Mark Shipp has been a guiding light for me this past year at both Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow Elementary Schools," Pam Glasser, music teacher at EMES and MBES said. "He has respectfully offered his wise insights about the special needs of students and means of better serving those needs. I will greatly miss him as a scholastic mentor and wish him a wonderful time ahead with his loving wife, Donna."
Another teacher who has been educating for generations was succinct in his thoughts of Shipp.
"Mr. Shipp is very caring and encouraging," Dario Soto, MBES and EMES PE teacher said. "He always puts the kids first."
Shipp will not only be missed by staff he worked with on a day-to-day basis. He is known to help anyone who comes to him for advice concerning education. Steve Priest, principal of Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow High School said in his special thanks to Shipp.
"Mark has been a great mentor. I was able to work with Mark on my internship hours as I pursued my principal certification, and as an administrator once I became a principal," S. Priest said. "Mark has always been available to answer questions and work through difficult problems. He always had the student interests at heart and I hate to see him go, but wish him well as he moves on to the next chapter in his life."
Shipp leaves his role as principal feeling good about what has happened on his watch. He said performance in all the schools has been excellent. He said across the board, the teamwork all the schools demonstrate makes him feel good about his influence. He is also happy he got to expose the students to different opportunities, whether it is arts or academics.
"I will miss that," Shipp said. "I was lucky to start off teaching in Saratoga and then be involved in the communities up north and all are four are unique and wonderful in their own way."
He said he really appreciated getting to meet as many residents of all the communities that he has.
"I will still be around because I am not going anywhere soon," Shipp said. "This isn't exactly goodbye to the people I know in all the communities."
Shipp said he wasn't worried about not keeping busy with the newfound time. He likes to fish, hike, camp and be outdoors. Saratoga will be his home in the near future. When his wife retires–which should not be too much longer–they plan to start a trip that allows them to go to a music festival in every state.
"It is a goal we have set," Shipp said. "It will be over a course of a few years, since doing it in one year would be tough."
Shipp wishes his replacement well and his advice for the new principal: "Enjoy every sandwich."
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