Lopez school honors Principal Sorensen

“Only the educated are free,” said the inscription on the plaque presented to Principal Elton Sorensen in honor of his nine years of service to Lopez school. It was awarded to Sorensen at the May 26 school board meeting. Sorensen made his decision to retire public at the start of the 2003-2004 school year.

Sentiments for Sorensen were unified: he will be greatly missed and irreplaceable.

“He’s what we all want to aspire to be as administrators,” said Lopez Superintendent Larry Johnson. “In my 25 years as an educator, I’ve never run into someone with such a capacity to care for kids.”

Johnson went on to say that Sorensen knows the names of all the kids, often meets them at the doors as school starts and visits with them in the hallways. “Every decision he makes is in the best interest of the kids,” said Larry Johnson, Lopez school superintendent.

“He will be dearly missed,” added District Secretary Carolyn Jacobson.

If Sorensen were to pick a year to retire, this would be it. He leaves Lopez school on a high note, with teachers and administration enthusiastic and motivated about their jobs as educators in a progressive school. “If you were to pick one place to retire from, it would be here,” said Sorensen. “It’s just a nice way to end a career.”

“I leave this place knowing I was incredibly lucky to be here,” said Sorensen.

About two months ago the Lopez Island School District hired a new principal for the 2004-2005 school year, Roland MacNichol.

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