Mrs. Finnegan Announces Retirement When I took the position of elementary principal I knew the Lord had led me to the place where I needed to be. I was honored to be able to lend my perspective and experience to the school that means so much to my family. I also knew that it would be a huge blessing to work with such dedicated, professional, caring Christian educators and partner with families who are so invested in their children's education.
At the beginning of this semester when I received my intent form for next year, I didn't complete it immediately. I felt I needed to pray about next school year before I returned it to Mrs. Robbins. As I did so over several days, it became clear that my time at Cornerstone was coming to an end. That day in early February (long before any of the Coronavirus craziness) when I told Mrs. Robbins that I was retiring, I felt sad and excited at the same time!
I love the people I get the privilege to work alongside, and I have been blessed by the students and their families in ways that I never could have anticipated! But, I know the Lord is now calling me to the next chapter in my life, and I am so looking forward to making the most of being an empty nester.
For my husband Mike and I that means tackling some projects on the Finnegan Family Farm like expanding our garden, getting chickens and donkeys again (and maybe even goats)!
It means spending more time with my dad who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He's an expert gardener, and I'm looking forward to working alongside him in my garden as this will be the first time in many years that he won't have his own garden.
It means that I'll have the flexibility to tag along with Mike on work trips. He is a small business owner and occasionally gets to travel to places like Puerto Rico.
It means that I can help my daughter Molly set up her apartment in Birmingham in August when she returns to Samford for her senior year. I will attend every single one of the performances of the Worship Arts Ensemble in which she sings soprano, and maybe spend the night at her place so that we can go shopping and have dinner at some of our favorite restaurants.
And lastly, it means going to as many University of Georgia home football games and visiting my son Reid, staying for a long weekend so that we can go shopping and have dinner at some of our favorite restaurants. (Obviously, I like to shop and eat!)
As for Cornerstone, I am thrilled to say that the Lord has provided the perfect person to replace me! Angela Daniel has taught kindergarten at Cornerstone for five years and has one son currently in elementary school and two daughters who will join us in secondary next year.
While Mrs. Daniel is a familiar face to many of our elementary families, I look forward to the rest of our elementary school getting to know her as she brings her educational leadership and expertise, her compassion for students, and her love for the University Model to the elementary principal role. I know you will welcome her with open arms, just as you did with me!
I wish we were at school as normal right now. This was not how I envisioned I would be retiring! I thought I would have more time to prepare myself for the last day that I would get to stand at the door and greet everyone as they came into school. I'm sad that I may not get to say a proper good-bye this school year. Please know that when we do get to return to school, I will be back to visit, and I am eagerly looking forward to hugging the necks of all those who will let me! I will miss y'all! Elementary Principal |