Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Top of the class

Vice principal of fun

"Mr. Papa" knows when to be serious, but it's his humor that those at Cypress Elementary adore.

By MICHELE MILLER
Published December 14, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Mr. Papa certainly knows how to leave them laughing.

That would be George Papaemanuel, the new assistant principal at Cypress Elementary School. In his short tenure there since transferring from Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O'Lakes, Papaemanuel already has garnered quite the reputation for his fun sense of humor and upbeat personality.

"He's such a great motivator - he's great with the students," said one of his fans, teacher Patty King.

"Mr. Papa," as he's known to students and faculty alike, is particularly engaging when he's making funny faces, taking a pie in the face or being dressed up as "the ugliest woman of all."

"He's a good sport," principal Carole Geibel said minutes before the "event of the month," a reward for the students' great show of citizenship, was to take place on the school's morning news show Friday.

For that, Mr. Papa would don a pair of safety glasses, a shower cap over his well-coiffed hair and a giant plastic bib. Then he would stand not-so-silently and willingly be hit in the face with not one, not two, but three whipped cream pies.

That was only part of the payoff for students and faculty members who recently donated $763 for the school's Relay for Life team, which this year has raised about $1,500 for the American Cancer Society.

Kelly Harper, 10, said she put $5 into the pot for the chance to toss a whipped cream pie in Mr. Papa's face during the school's morning news show.

Her name was picked out of a hat along with those of 5-year-old Christopher Cavazza and third-grade teacher Iris Lydting.

"That was fun," a giggling Kelly said as Lydting wound up and took her shot.

Later, Mr. Papa would tell students gathered at an outside assembly, "If you really like me, you'll look away" as teachers in the Bear Depot pod decked him out in a blond wig and tiara, a floral skirt, a pink sweater and boa, and a women's pair of size 12 silver sandals.

It was, no doubt, the highlight of the day for students who roared with delight as their assistant principal strutted about under the school's covered shelter.

"Now he's 100 percent complete girl," said Zack Royce, 8.

It was all in fun but also a teachable moment for Papaemanuel, who reminded students that this event was held in the name of charity.

"This is about good citizenship and teamwork. We're a team here at Cypress, and today I took one for the team," he told the students gathered around him. "Now give yourself a round of applause because you made the effort."

[Last modified December 14, 2005, 00:37:00]