'Immense pressure': Johnson talks challenges, rewards of being BHS principal
BRIGHTON — Longtime principal Gavin Johnson has retired from Brighton High School. He informed district families in a letter sent to parents on Friday.
In the letter, Johnson said the decision to retire was his alone, and had been discussed with district and high school administrators for a long time "to make sure plans are in place for a simple and easy transition.”
Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Matt Outlaw confirmed he was aware of Johnson’s plans in advance.
Johnson was principal at BHS for 13 years. He spent 24 years as a principal in total.
In his letter to families, Johnson wrote he's retiring for personal and professional reasons.
“This job has taken its toll on me mentally and physically,” Johnson said. “(It's) simply time for me to refresh, reenergize and begin a new adventure.”
When contacted by email this week, Johnson indicated PA 147 of 2023, signed into law on Oct. 10, helped to solidify his decision. The law states, among other things, public school employees who've been retired for six consecutive months can return to work with no effect on their pension or insurance subsidy under certain conditions.
"I definitely want to continue working in some capacity,” he wrote, adding he would have interest in returning to work in a school setting. “I love this job and working with young adults — but I’m looking at all options.”
Johnson told The Daily he decided to retire in November, and told his leadership team at the high school a month later.
On Monday, Outlaw sent a letter to families that thanked Johnson for his service. He added that Grade-Level Principals Matt Evans, Nate Grabowski and Tracie Richards will lead BHS for the second semester. Evans and Grabowski are alums themselves, and all three have children attending school within the district.
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Outlaw said the district will begin planning for next school year as spring approaches.
When asked to provide a quote about Johnson, Outlaw referred to the letter, which said, “(Johnson) cared deeply for the students and was always willing to help in any way that he could. As he prepares for the next steps in his career, we wish him well and thank him for the many lives that he has touched during his career."
Johnson, a resident of Whitmore Lake, said the biggest challenge he faced in the role was being a good father and husband while leading 2,000 students, 100 teachers and 50 staff members.
“You are asked to do a lot of things that bring immense pressure,” he wrote.
The next principal should care deeply for the students, Johnson wrote, with everything else a “secondary” consideration.
“Patience, kindness, flexibility and the ability to admit you are wrong and make mistakes are important attributes,” he said. “But trying to treat students like they are your own children I think is the best advice I could give any principal.”
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: 'Immense pressure': Johnson talks challenges, rewards of being BHS principal