Brandon Twp.- It’s been 38 years since Donald Patrick first walked into a classroom in the Brandon School District.
Now the local education icon, known for community dinners, establishment of the intermediate school concept and a lighthearted character says it’s time for a change.
Patrick, 64, Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School principal, announced his retirement from the district at the school board meeting on Monday night due to the illness of his wife Irene.
‘Right now our goal is to lick this cancer together,? said Patrick. ‘We’re going to get our health in order first. Then we’ll decide what’s next for us.?
‘Ortonville is wonderful place. I could not have been in better community all these years. It’s been such an honor to be trusted with the education of so many children. I’d also like credit the wonderful staff I’ve had the opportunity to work with through the years, we’ve provided the best education possible for the Brandon youth.?
A native Allen Park, Mich., Patrick attended St. Francis Xavier High School, in Ecorse Mich. After graduation he attended Henry Ford College, Dearborn. He later attended Grossmont Community College, El Cajon, Ca. where he received an associate degree.
After working for about a year, Patrick attended Eastern Michigan University, in Ypsilanti where he earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in Elementary Education. The degree included minor degrees in business, language arts, science, and social science.
At 23, Patrick accepted his first teaching position at Melvindale Northern-Allen Park Public Schools where he taught eighth grade.
‘I earned $5,200 for a year of teaching and had about 30 students,? he said.
During Vietnam War era of the early 1960s Patrick says he was drafted three times into the Army.
‘The first time I was drafted I received a student deferment,? he said. The next two draft notices the Melvindale Northern-Allen Park superintendent gave me deferments. I actually went through my physical and even had a date to report. But I never went to boot camp.?
‘When I was at Eastern Michigan I saw ad in The Detroit News, for lake lots at Lake Metamora. So I purchased the lake property just after the lake opened. After I was married in 1967, Irene and I drove out there and she said, ‘we can’t live here it’s in the middle of nowhere,?? laughed Patrick.
About a year later the couple once again visited the Lake Metamora property and noticed a home on nearby Merritt Lake across the street from the Lake Metamora.
‘Irene fell in love with the home, so we bought it. And after several add-ons we still live there today.?
‘In 1968 they hired me in the Brandon District. I worked for Principal Bud Swanson at Belle Ann Elementary where I taught sixth grade. After the first year it seemed like everyone was leaving so I interviewed and was hired in the Davsion School District.?
‘Joy Holler, then a teacher at Belle Ann and later a Brandon Superintendent told me, ‘you got to give it a chance here,? so I stayed at Belle Ann.?
Patrick soon became interested in school administration and completed a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Eastern Michigan University. His duties were later expanded in the district to included a Federal programs coordinator and kindergarten through sixth grade reading teacher.
From Belle Ann he move on to Brandon Middle School Assistant Principal, where he also was special education director and formed the Head Start Program which still exists today.
Patrick also served as Brandon High School assistant principal for six years and later Brandon Middle School principal for several years.
With the district continuing to grow and the elementary schools needing more space the seventh and eighth grades were moved to the high school and Patrick created the fifth and sixth grade intermediate school program.
‘That’s where I ended up. I’ve had so many wonderful people helping me create the fifth and sixth grade building programs and put it into operation.?
Patrick was also the host of the Brandon Community Thanksgiving dinner each November served in the Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School cafeteria.
‘I think it’s always been my job,? laughed Patrick, regarding the Thanksgiving dinner severed to about 300 area senior citizens each year. ‘It’s been at least 28 years or so since I started organizing the dinner. Every year they kept saying, ‘it’s a good job for you, so I kept doing it.?
Patrick said the Brandon School District has grown over the years and notes the great support from the community.
Don and Irene Patrick, 39 years have two children Sandra Patrick of Metamoria and John Patrick of Cleveland.