U.S. Jones hold surprise celebration for Clark retirement

Rain poured down, but spirits were anything but dampened as U.S. Jones Elementary School students, faculty, staff, parents and supporters Thursday hosted a surprise farewell celebration for retiring principal Leon Clark.

The 560 students were surprisingly quiet until they screamed “Surprise!” as Clark entered the gym. With the student band playing, pep squad dancing and cheerleaders leading yells in Clark’s honor, the outgoing principal was led on stage where his wife Susan, son, daughter and families had gathered with a host of other well-wishers.

“Yes, I was totally surprised,” Clark told the crowd.

As he pointed to his family, an emotional Clark told his students, “You’re part of my family, too.”

Students representing each class presented letters to Clark thanking him and wishing him well. Attached to each letter was a blue or white balloon.

Assistant principal Tracy Stewart, who helped organize the event, said there had been secret meetings, secret emails and lots of other secrets for the past several months as the faculty and staff planned the surprise.

Stewart told the students, “If we can pull this off, it will be the greatest surprise in history.”

Clark’s wife, Susan, and their children Lindsay and Brad Bendeck from Alpharetta, Ga., and Reggie and Bethany Clark from Mitchell, Ind., and their families also were on hand for the event.

Principals from the other DCSS campuses took Clark to lunch to get him off campus. As soon as he left, some 50 students spent half an hour setting up the Leon Clark Hall of Fame in one of the hallways. They posted portraits of Clark created by each of the students in the school.

Originally plans were to have the band, cheerleaders and pep squad lead a parade in front of the school. The rain, however, forced a change of plans at the last minute.

At a reception in the school library, Clark and guests were treated to a humorous video featuring photos of Clark throughout his academic career. It also included pictures of each class with suggestions on how Clark should spend his retirement – everything from beach bum to mayor.

“Education is part of my life,” he told the guests. “That’s just who I am.”

Clark has been with Demopolis City Schools for eight years, the first four as principal of Demopolis High School before transferring to USJ.