School principal honors promise
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 16 2009 05:38 AM
By Mason W. Canales
Killeen Daily HeraldNOLANVILLE – Richard E. Cavazos Elementary School's principal spent the entire school day Tuesday on the roof to honor a promise to students.
If it wasn't for a webcam connected to a television, a radio, and students passing by two windows, Joe Gullekson would have spent all of Tuesday alone.
Gullekson promised his students and staff he would stay on the roof if they reached a goal of $2,500 in donations for the United Way. They raised about $3,400.
"It warms the heart that in such dire economic times, we can do this," Gullekson said.
The cold weather surprised Gullekson as he hauled a tent, chair, laptop, Lunchables and radio up to the roof at 7:30 a.m., he said.
He picked Tuesday for his roof adventure because the weather was supposed to be nice, but the early morning temperatures around freezing didn't stop him.
"Lo and behold the weather here in Texas didn't cooperate," Gullekson said, wearing several layers of clothes and joking that it was good practice for ice fishing.
The Cavazos students and staff raised the money in a variety of ways, Cavazos Counselor Linda Roberts said.
The students held a change collection competition, which gave the class with the most donations an extra 30-minute recess, Roberts said. There were staff meals, dress-up days for students and teachers, candy sales and a silent auction for staff members to collect donations.
Students and staff members the raised about equal amounts of money, Roberts said.
About 20 classrooms traveled by windows to say hello to Gullekson about noon.
Gullekson said he hoped keeping his promise taught the students something.
"It shows them to persevere in every challenge they come across," Gullekson said.
Contact Mason W. Canales at
mcanales@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7554.