After 41 years as a teacher/principal in the public education field, Fred Hughson is looking forward to retirement.
Currently the principal at Walnut Park Elementary, his career began in 1970 in Saanich. It was the obvious choice for him, he said. As a Big Brother, he was already volunteering with kids, trying to help them move forward without too many diversions.
It was a volunteer position that partially led him to the career he has now, where helping kids progress is part of his job description.
“Just helping them to find their way,” Hughson said. “I had some really good teachers and I really appreciated what I got from some of those teachers.”
His choice was an easy one and he began teaching on Vancouver Island before progressing north.
He stayed in Saanich for the next 16 years before taking up his first principal post in Bella Coola. One year later, he made his way to the Bulkley Valley, taking up the reins at Chandler Park Middle School. Seven years later he was off to Walnut Park, where he’d stay for 18 years.
Moving up here was a career move, he said, however as his wife was from the Francois Lake region they had family in the region as well. The winters, he was proud to say, didn’t come as much of a shock as he partially grew up in Ontario.
Looking back, he’d do it again in a heartbeat. Kids can come from all different circumstances; as such, each one has his or her own dreams, their own ways of doing things, and it’s very rewarding helping them achieve what they want in a way that suits them.
“It’s a very, very interesting career,” Hughson said. “There’s a kind of an enthusiasm and a keenness in kids, it’s very motivating.”
High school, middle school and elementary all have their own perks, but he would have to say his time at Walnut Park was the most enjoyable.
“Kids want to be engaged, they want to learn that how we are as human beings,” Hughson said. “It is a passage that can be difficult … they’re busy discovering themselves. There are some big changes.”
Definitely a career like no other, but he is looking forward to retirement as well. It’ll provide more time for golfing and fishing, he said.
He will miss it, though.
After this school year is done, there will be no more walking down the halls, having so many friendly ‘hellos’ and being surrounded by the collective
“It’s a great job when you can have kids giving you a friendly enthusiastic hello, it’s great,” Hughson said.
He’s also enjoyed those bumps in the road that come along with growing up. Just being part of that learning process that a kid goes through to find a more appropriate response and seeing how they act differently the next time a similar situation arises is a pleasing feeling, he said.
“A big part of my job is just helping kids along that way,” Hughson said, who will miss that aspect a lot.
For former students and colleagues, Walnut Park will be having an assembly on June 28 at 3:30 p.m. as a ‘send-off’ for Hughson.