CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Clarksburg Elementary celebrated its principal and administrative assistant Friday, June 13 on the last day of school.

 

Principal Sandra Cote and administrative assistant Donna Neville both decided to retire at the end of the school year.

 

"It's been great. It really has. I mean, the staff at Clarksburg is such a family kind of group. They're welcoming, they're hard working, they're dedicated, they come together, and they make you feel like you're a part of the team," Cote said. "They always have the kids' best interests at heart. It's kind of like a dream position for a principal, to be honest."

 

The two were surprised Friday morning with a fire truck and a lineup of all the kids. Cote and Neville were given a sash and tiara. They then rode in the fire truck, a Clarksburg tradition.

 

Cote has been with Clarksburg Elementary since 2022.

 

She worked within Berkshire County schools for 37 years, starting as a teacher in 1988 at the former Johnson School, then moving on to Greylock School and Brayton. She became principal of Clarksburg School in 2022.

 

While she loved teaching, she knew she always wanted to be in administration.

 

"I kind of knew early on that I wanted to go into the administrative part of things, which is why, when the opportunity to teach a different grade level came up, I did it because I really felt like, if you're going to be a good administrator, you need to be able to teach and know about multiple grades and multiple age levels," she said.

 

Cote said, most of all, she will miss the students.

 

"They're so happy to be in school. And the smiles and the hugs and the stories that you get, and it's not even just in school, I think one of the things I'm going to miss is you go to Walmart and you run into somebody, or even somebody that had you as a teacher 20 years ago, and they remember you, and you're racking your brain, trying to because they've changed. But it's just knowing that so many kids who know who you are and are comfortable talking to you," Cote said.

 

Northern Berkshire School Union Superintendent John Franzoni worked with Cote throughout his career before becoming superintendent. He said Cote has been a great leader in the schools.

 

"To be such a strong leader and to influence so many students in a positive way, both her and Donna, that's pretty special. I just want to thank them for that dedication to helping so many kids over the years," Franzoni said.

 

Cote previously worked at Greylock School as the principal for 20 years with Donna Neville, who decided to follow Cote to Clarksburg in 2022.

 

"Both of us were saying we didn't sleep well last night. We were like, thinking about today and what's it going to mean, and what are we going to feel? And so it's heartwarming and a little sad," Cote said.

 

Neville said she was ready to retire three years ago but wanted to continue work with Cote.

 

"We're just a good team from day one, we just work well together,” Neville said. "She's a wonderful leader, and I think everybody respects her. And the kids love her," she said.

 

Third grade teacher Kimberly Rougeau will take over as principal next semester. She said she will take some of what she learned from Cote with her.

 

"I think her dedication to education is something that I'll really take from her because of just the time that she's put into this work, and I think that I really admire the time that she's given to schools, and so that is a huge piece that I'm taking from her," Rougeau said.

 

Reflecting on her own career, Cote left her coworkers and students with some advice.

 

"I always tell the younger kids, the junior high kids, the same message I always told my kids: make sure you're in a career, in a job that you love, because you're going to be doing it for a long time. And I was really fortunate that I got to do that. Certainly everybody has those days where you're like, 'oh, you know, I really could have slept in this morning,' but here I am. I'm going to say just about every single day I was happy to come to work and that I enjoyed being here. I enjoyed being at the other schools that I was at. I love seeing the people. I love seeing the kids. It never felt like you were working. It just felt like you were doing something you loved. And that's what I would say to people, make sure you're doing that, because that's going to make your life feel great," Cote said.

 

Cote thanked everyone she has worked with over the years and the families who entrusted her to take care of their kids. She reminisced on a former student's comment to her that she says is one of her favorites.

 

"One of my favorite quotes was this little kindergartner, many, many, many years ago," she said. "After like, the third day of school, she was walking by me. She said, now I get it. You're the mommy of the school. I was like, you know what, you're right, I am, and that's how I felt, and I appreciate that."