Retro RFH Teacher-Administrator Cool at School Moment

A look back at RFH science teacher James Parker and Assistant Superintendent Donald Trotter Photo/George Day — A look back at RFH science teacher James Parker and
Assistant Superintendent Donald Trotter
Photo/George Day

A reprise, originally posted in 2015, because a new RFH superintendent has reported to the office …

RFH has a new superintendent. He’s reported to the office and has walked those hallowed halls of good ol’ RFH.

And with thoughts of welcoming the new, the old and that teacher-administrator rapport comes to mind. Back in the day, or the ’70s at least, there were those administrators who weren’t just a Charlie Brown teacher’s voice cawing over the ol’ daydreaming student’s non-thought process. Some, or one in particular, are remembered as a real education innovators.

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day gives a look back at a candid shot of a popular RFH science teacher and a pretty well-liked assistant superintendent who worked with the well-liked man in charge back in the 1970s, Dr. Kinney.

They are none other than James Parker and Assistant Superintendent Donald Trotter.

As this RFH grad recalls, pretty much everyone thought Mr. Parker was cool. The reality is that he probably wasn’t much older than the students back then. He typically stopped to chat with students in the hallways, was always calm and level-headed and, well, cool.

And he was always carrying a briefcase, too. Anyone see much of that these days? A lot of the male teachers back then did that. But he always seemed to swing his around while he was chatting. Odd memory, perhaps, but vivid.

Here he is wearing his usual not-so-preppie, but cool-in-and-old-guy-way, sweater vest. Is that a Huckapoo shirt the collar of which he forgot to untuck from under that sweater vest? Hmmm.

And then there was the amenable administration under the reign of Dr. Kinney — a soft spoken, sweet intellect who had some great, groundbreaking administrative ways. Think mod, dinosaur RFH folks.

Remember the “mod” system and “frees,” the senior and junior lounges? I wonder if they were on a “free” when George Day snapped this photo. What are they watching?

What do you remember about the days of Kinney? Who was your favorite teacher? And who’s the teacher in the background?

Thanks again, George Day, for this priceless RFH look back!

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