By: Bob Strohm
Bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Colonel Crawford sent best wishes in retirement to one of their own Friday evening as an open house was held for outgoing elementary school principal Ruthann Noblet.
Snacks and punch were served in the William and Hannah Library between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday night as friends, and colleagues both current and former spent time telling stories, and sharing memories of their time with the Hannah Crawford Elementary Principal.
Noblet reminisced about her time at Colonel Crawford, “Just watching the district over the years grow and change, and then of course this new facility. Building it, planning it, and the first date moving in here was awesome. Everything worked the way I envisioned it, because a lot of people did a lot of work, and the community just getting behind it was awesome. “
Jen Sautter who will be replacing Noblet as Hannah Crawford Elementary Principal shared memories working with Noblet, “The best part has been the last few months. The Board has allowed me to work with her and be my mentor,” Sautter said.
“The greatest thing for me has been having the opportunity to work side by side with her. She was my boss when I taught kindergarten, and then now being able to work right beside her and learn from her it has been wonderful,” Sautter continued.
Colonel Crawford Superintendent Todd Martin said of Noblet, “She’s a very organized individual, who has got a very good feel for the district. She grew up here. She spent the last 21 years here, so she has a feel for community, for the traditions, for the climate.”
“Coming in as a new principal 5 years ago I went to her a lot. She is a wealth of information. I had her, Mr. Bruner, Mr. Ruth at the time to pull ideas from, so she has been real good in helping with my growth,” Martin continued.
Colonel Crawford High School Principal Jake Bruner spoke highly of Noblet, “This is my second year as a high school principal, but I grew up here. Ruthann was kind of a member of my family because my father and mother were administrators and teachers and worked with her so she was a motherly figure for me growing up with my family, and now I got to work with her as a colleague. Just having someone with so much knowledge and so much experience, and if you ever needed advice she was a great person to go to.”
“Our district was very fortunate to have a Colonel Crawford graduate that stayed so long and affected so many lives.” Bruner continued.
As for her plans for life after being principal Noblet said, “I’m really not sure right now. I’m going to take a few months and just chill, coast a little bit, and try to relax and then see what the next adventure the lord has for me. I am excited about it.”
Noblet whose career began in 1979 as a student teacher for Johnstown Monroe School District came full circle in 1992 as she returned to her Alma Mater of Colonel Crawford to become the principal at the Leesville Elementary School in the Colonel Crawford School District.