On June 12, Whitehall-Coplay School District children stepped off their buses for the last time this academic year, ready for the freedom that summer brings.

At the same time, Whitehall-Coplay Middle School Principal Glenn Noack said goodbye to the district he has been devoted to for nearly 30 years.

Administrators and staff members who worked closely with Noack over the years expressed their appreciation for his commitment to the district.

“Mr. Noack is a dedicated school leader who has served in WCSD in many capacities over the past 27 years. His dedication, perseverance and positive, charismatic attitude are the attributes that enabled him to be the dynamic, confident, well-respected leader we all recognize and will truly miss,” Superintendent Dr. Lorie Hackett said. “His decisions are continually based on ‘what is right for kids,’ which is the cornerstone of an outstanding school leader. Everyone in our district will clearly miss his fun-loving, enthusiastic personality, and we all wish him the best!”

“Glenn has been such a positive force for service for the students of the Whitehall-Coplay School District,” said Angela Friebolin, newly named principal of WCMS. “He approaches all aspects of his position with caring and compassion and truly has the best interests of the kids at heart at all times. He has been a great mentor to me in my career, and we will miss him terribly. But we are so happy for him as well.”

“We’ll miss Mr. Noack’s honesty, sense of humor and compassion. He’s affected many teachers’ lives professionally and many students’ lives personally throughout his career in education,” said Corey Franz, a sixth-grade English and science teacher. “Mr. Noack has made the Whitehall-Coplay School District a better place by simply being in it.”

Noack credits his basketball coaches and math teachers at Whitehall High School - his alma mater - with his decision to enter the education field.

“I always loved math, so I was inspired by Carl Case. Carl Case was a high school basketball coach and my high school math teacher, and he inspired me to get into education,” Noack said.

Noack was originally an accounting major at Bloomsburg University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration.

“I grew up in a house where my father kind of told us what we were going to study. Then I went to Kutztown University, and that’s where I got my certification to be a math teacher, as well as my master’s to be a guidance counselor,” Noack said.

Noack began his career as a middle and high school math teacher in Warren Hills, N.J., in 1991, the same year his daughter was born. After three years, he decided to return to his alma mater to teach mathematics.

“In 1999, I became a seventh-grade guidance counselor. When I was a guidance counselor, I worked closely with the administration, and that’s when I first realized I might really enjoy being principal,” he said.

After receiving his principal’s certification from Lehigh University, Noack was assistant principal at Steckel Elementary in 2001 and became principal the following year. He spent 13 years at Steckel, followed by two years at WCMS.

Being principal had its own teaching moments, he noted.

“I’ve learned to be more patient and to slow down my decision-making. There’s so much to learn about every situation that arises in a school,” he said.

Noack has enjoyed helping the students and staff achieve their goals over the years.

“My favorite part of being principal is seeing both students and staff having success and feeling like I supported them to the point where they are enjoying success. That always made me feel good,” Noack said.

While being principal was rewarding, it was also difficult, according to Noack.

“My biggest challenge was moving the thermometer on student achievement. That’s a systemwide approach,” he said. “Buildings are assessed by the state, so your student achievement is fairly public.”

Noack has no shortage of memories of his time in the WCSD.

“When I was at Steckel, they had a surprise 50th birthday for me, and my mom was on the P.A. (system). I didn’t even know she was in the building,” he said. “The kids made all these skits. It was a big celebration; it was a big surprise. I never knew. That was probably my fondest memory.”

While Noack is looking forward to retirement, he will miss the daily interaction he is used to.

“I’m going to miss the ability to lead people, to lead kids and that ability to laugh and joke around in the workplace. I take my job very seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously, so I’ve always enjoyed people and joking around,” he said.

Noack advises students to “get involved and take chances, take some risks and get to know as many people as you can.”

“We have such wonderful diversity here. Get to know kids from different walks of life. We’re all the same. We have so much to offer each other,” he said.

When it comes to the future of today’s students, Noack believes they are not worse off than previous generations, despite what he might hear from adults looking back on their early years.

“It’s not worse, it’s just different,” Noack said. “I have hope in the human spirit. There are tremendous kids in our building. There are tremendously talented staff members in our building. That’s what gives me hope.”

Noack may be starting a new chapter of his life, but he will never forget his time at WCSD.

“I really believe in the middle school. I really believe in the Whitehall way, and I’m excited to see it grow,” he said.

Although he will miss being principal, he is looking forward to the freedom of retirement.

“I’m an avid cyclist. I have a bunch of bikes - not motorcycles, but bicycles. I want to become healthier,” Noack said.

“I have aging parents and aging family members. I’m going to support the heck out of them,” he said. “But my kids, whom I love dearly, both live in Arizona, so I’m going to spend more time in Arizona.”