Emphasizing education: New Madrid County R-1 principal recognized for excellence

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Thomas Drummond never planned to be a school principal.

For 24 years he served in the U.S. Army. His career would take him to Fort Dix, N.J., Fort Polk, La., and as far away as Korea. Eventually Drummond joined Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau, Mo., as a senior military science instructor while also earning his Bachelor of General Studies degree in 1998.

After retiring from the Army in 1995 at the rank of first sergeant, Drummond was hired by New Madrid County R-1 School District to establish the high school’s Junior ROTC program. While working with the JROTC program he earned a Master of Arts degree in secondary administration from SEMO in 2001.

In 2003, the R-1 District’s then superintendent approached Drummond with a question: Had he ever thought about being a principal?

“I said, ‘No because I enjoyed teaching JROTC,’” Drummond recalled. “But I went home and talked to my wife. I thought if I can handle 100, 200 or more soldiers, I think I can handle kids. So I said OK.”

Since 2003, Drummond has served as principal of New Madrid County Central Middle School

It is a role that has garnered him the respect of his staff and students and on Oct. 19, recognition by the NAACP when he receives the Dr. Edward M. Spicer Excellence in Education Award during the third annual Freedom Fund Banquet at Cape Girardeau.

In nominating Drummond for the honor, Liz Riley, a speech-language pathologist in the R-1 District, described him as an excellent motivator, who encourages his staff to strive for excellence. More importantly, she continued, “he has a genuine love for our students. … He truly cares about the students, offers them guidance and always encourages them to be good, productive citizens.”

According to Riley, Drummond is described by his peers and students as “loyal,” “fair,” “caring,” “hard working” and “a great leader.”

Drummond said the importance of education was always emphasized by his parents as he grew up.

“An F was something that was not authorized to be brought into the house. So we learned quick that you had to do your work at school if you wanted to participate in sports and the things you liked doing at the school,” he said.

He said he incorporated those same lessons into raising his own children. Also he emphasizes it to the Central Middle School students as he greets them as they arrive for classes each morning, surge through the hallways during class change or settle in for lunch in the school’s cafeteria.

“I’m not an office principal. I’m out there high-fiving them and telling they are doing a good job,” he said. “I am always explaining to them: ‘Mr Drummond’s job is not to punish, Mr. Drummond’s job is to explain to them how important education is.’”

With students in sixth through eighth grade, Drummond said the age group presents challenges as they range from pre- to mid-teens.

Because they are still maturing, they will make mistakes. When they do, Drummond said he does become an office principal. Those are the times, Drummond said he sits down with the student and they talk.

“I am asking them what made you do those things and what can we do better? How can we improve this behavior if it is a behavior thing,” he explained. “You don’t have to be that authoritarian, strict disciplinarian. The thing you have to do is build that trust and confidence of your students then everything else will come into place.”

Sometimes, he admitted, he is surprised by the students and the changes they have made. He said he enjoys watching them at their eighth grade graduation ceremony and takes pride in how they have grown and matured.

“As a principal my goal in life is for all of our kids to succeed. If I could see all of our kids leave the middle school and go to the high school and walk across that stage on graduation day, then I know I have played a part in their lives,” he said.

Eighth grader Lee Kenedy, said Drummond’s concern is obvious. He said as a principal, Drummond is always positive, very fair and willing to help students.

While he is already looking forward to moving onto high school, Kenedy acknowledged, “I’m going to miss him so much.”

Drummond said he has many people to thank for the recognition he will receive from the NAACP. He said he will thank the teachers who nominated him along with superintendent Dr. Sam Duncan and the school board. Also he will thank his family - his wife, Carol, son, Thomas Drummond Jr., and daughter, Stephanie Drummond Williamson, and his five grandchildren.

“I will have to give (my wife) a lot of credit because there is a lot of away from home time. She is my rock,” he said.

A part of students’ lives in the R-1 District for more than two decades now, Drummond noted some of his former students have become teachers. Others are now parents and introduce their middle schoolers telling them he was their principal as well.

With no plans for retirement, Drummond said he will maintain his schedule of arriving well before school starts to walk the hallways at New Madrid County Central Middle School then greet the buses. He will continue to attend the many Middle School extra-curricular activities, meet with parents and spend time with his staff, sometimes well into the evening.

““Whatever it takes, I’m here to support the kids,” he explained. “I think that is what makes it so good for the kids, they see me and they know I care about them.”