Graduation into retirement only fitting for popular KISD principal

It is no secret that Danny Greenfield, Principal of James

Arthur Intermediate School, is retiring this year after 33 years working for the KISD.

 

He announced his decision earlier this year so that the district would have time to plan for his replacement. May has been one-long goodbye and this Friday and Saturday will just add more empty boxes of tissue to the trash. {{more}}

4th grade picture of Greenfield at Kennedale Elementary with Mary Jane Day as ?class favorites?

 

More poignantly is the fact that ?Mr. Greenfield? as he is known to the thousands of students, who have passed through the school?s doors, will be the featured commencement speaker at Kennedale High School?s graduation ceremony this Saturday evening.

He was chosen by the seniors of the Class of 2015 to be their speaker. He, like they will be doing on Saturday, graduated from Kennedale High School in 1972.

Danny Greenfield ready for high school?

The Greenfields moved to Kennedale in 1963 and he entered the 4th grade at Kennedale Elementary. Barton Horton was Superintendent of Schools. For most of the next 52 years Danny Greenfield would be actively involved with Kennedale schools and community.

His graduation from Kennedale High School was almost the last ever for the school district. The school yearbook that year was dedicated to the staff, school board and the community citing their “support for the school district in times of financial crisis”.

KHS Graduate Danny Joe Greenfield in 1972 Class President, voted a class favorite and most courteous/friendliest.

In 1971 the school district facing bankruptcy had actually voted itself out of existence. But with supporters* rallying around the schools, a delegation was successful in a plea in Austin to keep the doors open.

After graduation and not sure what he wanted to do, Greenfield enrolled at Arlington State (UTA) and took a number of classes while working construction. Finally, deciding that he needed to get serious about finishing, he talked with his college advisor who told him with the course work that he had completed, he could be a teacher and a coach. Greenfield, who had developed a passion for square dance calling which also put money in his pocket, thought coaching would force him to give that up. He decided to get a teaching certificate in elementary P.E.

?Coach? Danny Greenfield in 1985 photo with students Cindy Lopez (l) and Carrie Bazhaw

His timing was perfect because Arthur Elementary Principal James Delaney was looking for a P.E. teacher for his new gym at the school. In 1982, Danny Greenfield became the first full time elementary P.E. teacher in the school district. J.W. ?Red? Teague was Superintendent.

Eight years later he became Assistant Principal at James Arthur under then Principal Linda Ives. G.D Cockerham was Superintendent. He became principal in 1996 when Ives left to open the new R.F. Patterson Elementary campus. Terry Horton was Superintendent.

Assistant Principal Danny Greenfield in 1995 photo with Principal Linda Ives and student Catherine Boenig. Greenfield would become principal at the end of the school year.

Greenfield never really left Kennedale after moving here in 1963. He married Kara Lynn in 1979 and together they raised raised two daughters, Dakota and Alyssa, both who are graduates of Kennedale ISD. Kara Lynn Greenfield is and plans to continue teaching at R.F. Patterson Elementary. She has been a teacher for 28 years in KISD.

A trip to his office was not always a pleasant one, he was the last to use the paddle (with parent permission) but his passion for his school, his creativity and innovation were his hallmarks. He has been an active, involved principal even outside of normal duties. He loved doing things that improved the education such as initiating the school?s outdoor education program with the 5th grade?s annual trek to Camp Grady Spruce. But, he also liked doing things that got the students and teachers involved together i.e. putting together the world?s largest crossword puzzle or painting a huge map of the United States on the playground.

Principal Danny Greenfield at his recent retirement celebration receiving plaque from Superintendent Gary Dugger for years of service (photo KISD)

Today is his last day with the students at James Arthur. Saturday, he will get a chance address the students of the James Arthur Class of 2009, along with many others.

Then, according to him, he is ?excited? about what comes next. He just hasn?t figure out what that is yet.

Kennedale High School graduation ceremonies are Saturday, 6 p.m. at Southwestern Theological Seminary.

*School Board members who helped to keep the doors open were Ken Harris, Percy Calder, Pete Kirkpatrick, Jim Gregory, R.F. Patterson and Frank Fazzio.