Thanks to Mississippi Valley Montessori School for their support. Located in West St. Paul since 1967, they’re an AMI-accredited Montessori school serving children up to age 6. Email us for more info.
After 20 years as principal of Garlough Environmental Magnet School, Sue Powell is retiring.
“Garlough is the product of many peoples’ dreams,” Powell said. “Anyone who does this work knows you can’t do it alone.”
Why Retirement
The retirement announcement came suddenly, just six weeks before school started. Powell will take family medical leave this fall and officially retire in December.
“It became very clear recently that I needed to focus on my own health while also being available to help my mom, who has been struggling with very complicated medical issues for many years,” Powell said. “I love, love, love my job, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it all to the level that is acceptable to me.”
Next principal: Earlier this week, ISD 197 announced plans for an interim principal. Somerset Principal Libby Huettl will take over Garlough for the year. Former Moreland Principal Mark Quinn, who has subbed for the district since his retirement in 2023, will fill in at Somerset. This approach will give the district more time to hire a principal and allow Huettl to mentor the new principal, ensuring a smooth transition and long-term stability.
- Advice for the next principal: “Have fun and treasure each day with the most amazing student body and staff,” Powell said. “The years go by in the blink of an eye!”
Teaching Nature
Garlough’s shift to an environmental school started in 2005 when Powell started as principal.
“The environmental/nature-based focus was not something that I thought was a great idea—it is who I am, it is how I was raised, how I raised my own children, and how I taught when I was a classroom teacher,” said Powell.
Powell spent a total of 35 years in education. Before Garlough, she spent 14 years teaching first and third grade in Columbia Heights.
“As a classroom teacher I had lots of animals in my room,” Powell said. “My students took care of them. We had mammals, reptiles including a six-foot free-roaming iguana, birds, a tarantula, mealworms, pillbugs, and maybe other things too—my husband hated summer break!”
Highlights of 20 Years
Two decades at Garlough included a lot to be proud of:
- Joy: “Garlough is such a joyful place and you can feel it when you walk in the building,” Powell said. “People mention it all the time. Garlough feels different; it is a joyful place to learn and grow. I am proud of that.”
- Innovation: “One of Garlough’s pillars of success is our ability to innovate and bring dreams to fruition,” Powell said. She shared a long list of dreams that staff, family, and community members realized: Garlough Song, Chipmunk Park, peace garden, Bird Central, tree ID course, natural play area, amphitheater, trails, Charlton tunnel mural, rain garden, annual plant sale, Hoot Hike, Environmental Explorer Fair, active classrooms, snowshoes, cross-country skis, Odyssey of the Mind, Zooms, and more.
- Recognition: “This is a hard profession,” Powell said. “Educators don’t get a lot of positive recognition. I have always encouraged teachers and students to apply for awards and enter contests. We have had so many award-winning staff and students over the years, I am really proud of that.
- More highlights: Powell mentioned several other highlights, including more than a dozen significant partnerships, creating a foundation of success for three additional magnet schools in the district, hiring former students, and a visit from the U.S. Capital Christmas Tree in 2014.
Reflecting on Garlough
The impact of nature: “There is a direct connection between overcoming fears (holding a snake or tarantula) and building confidence,” said Powell. “Once a child (or an adult) does something that they were scared to do, their confidence grows, and eventually so do their dreams.”
Concrete change: One specific example Powell shared of making a difference is how students spoke at a West St. Paul City Council meeting in 2015 and helped stop plans for a water tower in Garlough Park.
The impact of environmental education: “We will impact families and the community if our students remain committed to being kind to others and all living creatures (we don’t need to step on ants, spiders, and boxelder bugs), respecting and protecting our natural world, striving to live according to the ‘leave no trace’ principles, or even just composting,” Powell said.
Has it made a difference: “I definitely thought we would have made more progress in 20 years,” said Powell. “We are still talking about how critical it is for kids to be outside 20 years after Last Child in the Woods was published.”
Favorite Garlough pet: “I don’t think I can pick one,” Powell said. “But my three favorite office pets are Heggie (the hedgehog our first four years or so), the birds, and our office dogs, Sadie and recently, Franklin.”
What’s Next
“I will look forward to jumping on any adventure that comes my way, going on adventures with my grandson, Callum (once my daughter will let me), traveling, and spending lots of time in nature and around water,” Powell said.
From pets to plants, woodchips to Chipmunk Park, Garlough Environmental Magnet School has put nature at the center of everything it does, much like its instrumental principal.
“I probably will go through the same process of designing my retirement that I did when I went to Garlough,” said Powell. “I have a vision, but the path to get there is not paved.”
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(Photo credit: ISD 197)
