Beloved Seminole principal moves up

After 10 years at Seminole Elementary, Elaine Cutler is leaving to become the district's director of elementary education.

Revised August 2, 2000

By LORRI HELFAND

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 1, 2000

SEMINOLE -- As principal of Seminole Elementary, Elaine Cutler read the teacher's comments on every student's report card.

Sherra Schwartau, PTA president, caught her doing that and asked why. "I'm determined that every teacher says something positive about the students," Cutler said.

Now, Cutler is bringing that positive attitude to a districtwide job. She's leaving Seminole Elementary after 10 years to become director of elementary education, overseeing 82 Pinellas County schools.

Cutler thinks kids need an encouraging atmosphere to excel. "We can't teach them if they don't want to be there," she said.

"I want to be a driving force in student achievement and work on empowering principals to be instructional leaders," Cutler said. "I really wanted to effect more change."

Parents and teachers say they'll miss their one-of-a-kind principal who was a perfect blend of warmth, encouragement and discipline.

Schwartau, whose son, Adam, attends Seminole Elementary, said she has worked with five different principals since her two children started school. "She is undoubtedly the best principal I have ever worked with," she said. "Elaine truly loves the children."

Cutler is warm, Schwartau said, but not afraid to put her foot down. "She could be a strong disciplinarian," she said.

Adam, who couldn't get away with fooling around in school, told her he hoped the new principal would be less-perceptive, Schwartau said.

First-year teacher Sherri Forrest said Cutler's support was a bonus. "She always reminds you you're doing a good job," she said.

And first-grade teacher Mary Agliano said Cutler was always fair to the teachers. "She had an open-door policy and she was always there to listen," Agliano said.

Forrest and Agliano lauded Cutler for being "on the cutting edge" when it came to trying new education programs.

"She kept in touch with what was current and what was happening with the district and what was beneficial to the kids," said guidance counselor Pat Gray.

Director of Professional Education for Pinellas County Schools, Carol Thomas, who also joined the district this summer, as director of elementary education, said, "It's been a real blessing to have her as a colleague and as a friend."

The two met through the principal grapevine. First, she said, Cutler was her mentor and, in time, she said, they became best friends. Their new offices are across the street from each other, and the two plan to carpool and have lunch together when their busy jobs permit.

Agliano said she was sad to see Cutler go, but not surprised. "We all felt she was going places," she said.

"She will be sorely missed as principal," Forrest said, "We're hoping we're going to get someone as good as she was."

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