Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Dan Vaara has served as Barkell Elementary School principal since 2015.

HANCOCK — Dan Vaara has been principal at Barkell Elementary School since 2015.

Vaara, a Hancock native, began his education career as a fifth-grade teacher in the Colon, Michigan, School District for seven years before serving as principal in Gaylord for another seven years, then was principal in the Ontonagon School District for two years, before accepting his position at Hancock.

“I started kindergarten at the E.L. Wright School in 1979,” Vaara said. “Now, I’m retiring four blocks up the street and that’s really cool.”

Vaara said in the nine years he has been an administrator in Hancock Public Schools, the most significant change he has seen is the huge push for STEM education.

“That’s the biggest, most positive change that I’ve seen,” he said.

Vaara said he thinks many schools have been struggling to get STEM programs implemented. It is so important for the future, he said, yet not many schools have teachers who are trained in STEM areas.

For years, he said, universities stressed an emphasis on Language Arts, which is important, but the result was a lack of elementary and middle school teachers strong in math and STEM.

“That’s changing,” said Vaara. “Usually, the people who are really in the top (of STEM) coming out of high school, they tend to go into other professions, and they’re trying to change that.”

So, what does the next phase of Vaara’s life look like?

Vaara’s last day as principal is scheduled for Sept. 27, after which is a period of time before he can offer his services to the school, but he is not sure of the duration.

“Obviously, I’m going to miss the kids, the staff, and the families,” he said. “So, I’ll come back and substitute teach, along with a lot of work to be done around my property.”

There are organizations like Teachers for Tomorrow, and online universities that are fast-tracking getting teachers in the classroom, Vaara said. They need administrators to observe the teachers going through the programs, and it is a long way to go to come here.

“Something like that may be a possibility, where once or twice a week I drive to Newberry or somewhere like that.”

Vaara said Karen Eddy, who is the new Barkell principal, is an ideal person for the position. She began in the role on August 12, with Vaara helping her to transition into the role.

Eddy, a 1989 graduate of HCH, began her teaching career at Barkell Elementary in 1994, as a fourth-grade teacher with additional teaching assignments in kindergarten, second and sixth grades. Since 2017, she has been Barkell’s Title I teacher, supporting reading and math achievement through the federally funded program by providing interventions and academic supports for the elementary students. Administratively, Eddy has served the school district as assistant principal at Barkell since 2009, with having the interim principal role during the 2011-12 academic year.