Saratoga News

Saratoga High School's vice principal Jerry McCloskey will retire in June after 34 years with the district.

Saratoga High School disciplinarian retiring

Vice principal says heart attack sped up his departure

By Chantal Lamers

Jerry McCloskey, 59, Saratoga High School's vice principal for the past six years, originally planned to retire in June 1998, but that was before his heart attack.

McCloskey pointed his index finger down at his desk. "I had it right here," he said referring to that September morning back in 1993 when he was rushed to the hospital.

McCloskey returned to work and says he feels fine. "I walk six days a week, and I've lost 28 pounds on purpose."

However, he's aware of the threat to his life and, as a result, decided to retire this June after 34 years in the Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District.

McCloskey began his career as a student teacher in 1962 at Los Gatos High School. When the opportunity arose to teach there full time, McCloskey seized it and didn't let go for the next 11 years.

Although he set out to be a teacher, Mc Closkey says he accidentally found his place as an administrator after he began performing minuscule administrative tasks.

In 1974, McCloskey continued his career at LGHS as vocational coordinator and four years later became assistant principal.

Current LGHS assistant principal Al Simon said he wasn't surprised to see McCloskey make the transition from teacher to administrator.

"He fit right in as a disciplinarian," Simon said. "He'd never had any problems in the classroom, so I never questioned whether he'd make it in that area."

Simon, who has worked as a teacher and administrator at LGHS since the early '60s, said McCloskey was an outstanding teacher, and most of the staff was pleased with him as assistant principal.

"He has a fantastic memory, and he never forgets a face or a name. He always knew everything about all the kids."

After serving as Mark Twain High School's principal for two years, McCloskey came to Saratoga High and hasn't left since.

"The thing that is neat about this school, the thing that I like, is the variety in this job," he said.

McCloskey deals with sophomores and seniors with attendance and disciplinary problems.

Principal Kevin Skelly, who has worked with McCloskey for only four years, said it's unbelievable that students respond to him in such a positive way despite the fact that he is often the one punishing them.

"He's a wonderful person, and I've learned a lot from him in terms of perspective and treating kids--everybody--with dignity."

McCloskey, however, will leave with some unpleasant memories as well.

"I'm sure I'll never forget it," McCloskey said. "I had to go to court."

In 1987, while he served as vice principal at LGHS, what was intended to be a prank by some of his students went well beyond. Three students exploded a pipe bomb on campus and maimed a young girl.

"It was difficult to understand why it had to happen," McCloskey said. "When I saw the girl, in court she told me she was sorry that I had to be there."

After he is gone, the students would probably all remember him in the same way, McCloskey said.

"The kids would all say the same thing. It's the thing I've strived to do as an administrator, and it's to be as evenhanded and as fair as possible."

Senior Lynna Jamison said she considers him a peaceful person who picks his battles.

"He's a man of few words," Jamison said, "but when he says something, he means it."

McCloskey's father, who died of a heart attack, always questioned his son's motives for becoming a teacher.

"My father made more money than I ever will in all of my years in education," McCloskey said, referring to the printing shop his father owned in Watsonville, where he grew up. "But money isn't everything; my wife and I are rich in other ways."

Four people have been interviewed to replace McCloskey, but a final decision hasn't been made.

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