Longtime principal leaving Sutter Middle School

Greg Purcell spent Tuesday afternoon boxing up the past 14 years of his life -- all the yearbooks, field-trip pictures and thank-you notes he has accumulated as principal of Sacramento's Sutter Middle School.

One keepsake remained unpacked atop all the cardboard boxes in his office, a framed poem students and staff composed for his birthday a few years back:

We love Mr. P.
What a snappy dresser is he
He knows all our names, watches all our games
For him, our high test scores are key

"It was a fun thing they did," said Purcell, smiling at the memento. "Yeah, we had some good times."

That students and staff would compose such a poem is a testament to the popularity of Purcell -- a lifelong educator with a reputation for high standards and a knack for remembering students' names.

It's also a measure of how much Purcell will be missed when he starts a new job next week at the Sacramento City Unified School District. In his new role, Purcell will help the district run its programs for at-risk youths, a big job in a district that has had its share of violence in recent years.

"It's bittersweet," said Purcell, 53, whose new job isn't as hands-on but does offer a raise and a chance to work at district headquarters alongside his wife, Nancy Purcell, a former principal at Sam Brannan Middle School.

News of Purcell's departure, which trickled out in recent weeks, has been cause for anxiety among some parents and teachers.

"The school and the person are indistinguishable," said Bob Remen, whose daughter finished seventh grade at Sutter a few weeks ago. "You would hope that what he's built there will have a lasting quality."

The district will convene a hiring committee and plans to announce a new principal in August, said Maria Lopez, a district spokeswoman.

Purcell's philosophy, cultivated over a lifetime in education, is simple: Have high expectations for your students and they will stretch to meet them.

It's a view that paid off at Sutter, a school once nearly shuttered because of dwindling enrollment. Thanks to a district policy that allows students to choose schools, Sutter, which had 500 students before Purcell arrived, now has 1,300 and a waiting list to get in.

A metal sign tacked to the school's brick facade notes that Sutter is now a "California Distinguished School," an accolade it received largely for boosting test scores, which are now among the best in the state.

Inside the school gymnasium, dozens of banners commemorate the school's athletic titles. The girls soccer team, for instance, has won the league title every year since 1999. The boys soccer squad has won every year but one since 1998.

"He'll tell you that the teachers and the staff are why we have this level of excellence," said Robert Cortez, a math teacher who has been at Sutter a decade. "But it's also his leadership."

Lisa Krause said her son, Kevin, has thrived at the school.

"Just walking in, you can feel energy and excitement," she said.

As he paced the quiet hallways Tuesday, Purcell said he has taken particular care to build an energetic, dedicated staff over the years. And he is confident they'll continue what he started.

"Sutter's never been about one person, or two people," Purcell said. "It's been about a school culture and collaboration among adults about what's best for kids."

About the writer:

• The Bee's Todd Milbourn can be reached at (916) 321-1063 or tmilbourn@sacbee.com.