Frazier principal enters retirement
PERRYOPOLIS – Ask Frazier Senior High School principal Bernard Kubitza what he has enjoyed the most throughout his 33 years as a teacher and administrator and he’ll simply tell you his interaction with the students. “They have a tendency to bring out the best in me,” said Kubitza, who retires June 9.
Kubitza, 53, said his decision to retire was not an easy one, but the workload associated with being a principal was overwhelming him. “My heart tells me to stay, but after working 60 to 65 hours a week for the last 14 years, I wanted more time for myself,” said Kubitza.
While people have asked Kubitza if he is retiring to get away from the students, he said nothing could be further from the truth.
When observing a classroom at Frazier, Kubitza said the best part of his job was “seeing the magic of education when the teacher would click with a student. You see that twinkle in their eyes.”
Kubitza, a resident of Ellsworth in Washington County, arrived at Frazier in 1997, leaving Mapletown Junior/Senior High School in the Southeastern Greene School District in Greene County, where he served as a social studies teacher for 19 years, assistant principal for three years and principal for four years. “It was time for a change,” said Kubitza attributing his transition to the size of Frazier and its resources.
A 1967 graduate of California Area High School, Kubitza said he was impressed with teaching from the time he was a young boy, although he also thought of becoming an attorney. “I always had a love for history and government since I was in elementary school,” said Kubitza.
Upon graduation, Kubitza continued his education at California University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in teaching in 1970, followed by a master’s degree in history, principal’s certification and superintendent’s letter of eligibility.
During his tenure at Mapletown, Kubitza taught high school social studies and served as a member of the high school Student Assistance Team and as faculty advisor for the school’s Student Council.
Kubitza also held the position of president of the local education association for one term and served on the association’s negotiations committee for four separate contracts.
Upon is arrival at Frazier, Kubitza was introduced to block scheduling and has viewed it as a success for both the teachers and students by allowing more time for instructional strategy in the classroom.
“This was one reason for the success (on state tests) that Frazier has had over the last few years,” said Kubitza.
However, Kubitza said the most dramatic curriculum change came during the 2001-2002 school year, when the district started using an Integrated Mathematics program that begins in the ninth grade.
The program was deemed exemplary by the U.S. Department of Education and used to coincide with the state’s proficiency guidelines that now requires students to earn a “C” grade or above prior to graduation.
Kubitza added the program was not only a challenge for the faculty and staff but also for Frazier’s four high school math teachers that were affected by how it was taught.
“They molded and shaped the program to meet our needs,” said Kubitza.
Dr. Frederick Smeigh, superintendent, said he has a great deal of respect for Kubitza, both personally and professionally.
“I’ve been an administrator for 30 years, and he’s one of the best principals I’ve ever worked with,” said Smeigh.
Within the last four years, Kubitza said he has been proud to witness the improvement in student achievement on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests in math, reading and writing as well as the Advancement Placement and Student Achievement tests.
While Kubitza said the increase in test scores is impressive, he added that it is only one aspect of looking at the school as a whole since student attendance, discipline and tardiness have relatively decreased within that same time.
“What I like about it all is that something is working right at Frazier. Our administrators, teachers, support staff and students are working together to create a positive atmosphere,” said Kubitza.
As Kubitza prepares to depart from his office at Frazier, he will be exchanging his paperwork at school for a writing project he hopes to finish at home involving his family’s history.
Over the summer, Kubitza said he is looking forward to enjoying some of the leisure entertainment that he had to put off before, such as traveling, fishing and golfing.
Despite being retired as a principal, Kubitza said he isn’t ready to leave the education field completely and plans to seek employment again in the fall, but adhere to a lighter workload.
“I don’t see myself as retired, just a change in careers,” said Kubitza.
Outside of his school involvement, Kubitza has remained active in his community, serving as president of Ellsworth Borough Council for 16 years and on the community’s recreation board in addition to being a member of the Korean-Vietnam War Memorial Committee and the advisory committee to the Presbyterian Association of Aging.
In addition to his 13-year tenure on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, Kubitza also served as a school director for the Bentworth School District for eight years.