Beaver River Central High School - Beaverian Yearbook (Beaver Falls, NY)

Page 10 text:

ik (i u U

Page 9 text:

GLENN A. SEALY Fifty-two years an educator—fifty years a student—that is the story of Glenn Allen Sealy, a truly great leader in the field of education. His is the fascinating story of a pioneer who, through courageous and unrelent- ing endeavor, brought to the rural communities the education which they so unfortunately lacked. Born in the town of Potsdam in 1880, Mr. Sealy initiated his education- al career with two years at the Potsdam High School. Upon obtaining a third grade teacher's license at the age of 18, he contracted to teach in Hopkin- ton for a period of 16 weeks at a salary of $6 a week. Through self-help and tutors, the new teacher procured second and first grade licenses. After teaching in various other rural schools, he moved to Nickolville where he remained as principal for four years.

Page 11 text:

His marriage to Ellen Root, a cousin of Elihu Root, took place at Par- ishville Center in 1902, after which he moved to Santa Clara, where he or- ganized a Union Free School. Three years later he left that village to be- come vice-principal of St. Regis Falls High School. In 1912 he graduated from the school of which he was a vice-principal. The previous year he had attended summer school at Clarkson College of Technology. Following his high school graduation, he became principal of Rensselaer Falls High School for two years and then principal at Fort Covington High School for four years. In September, 1918, he became principal of Harrisville High School. The big day came on December 23, 1919 when Mr. Sealy received his Christmas present —superintendency of schools of the first supervisory district of Lewis County. Although it has been 30 years since he first became superintendent, Mr. Sealy has continued to educate himself as well as others. In 1932 he was awarded his Bachelor's degree and then, two years later, his Master's degree. When Mr. Sealy began his work as district superintendent, one- and two- room school houses supplied the needs of the majority of the children, al- though there existed a union free school at Beaver Falls and a high school at Harrisville. In 1925 the superintendent had all the one- and two-room schools completely modernized. The book, Objective Tests, of which he was co-author, and which was the result of several experiments in grouping children on the basis of their abilities, has been widely used in State Teachers' Colleges. Through his efforts, this district was one of the first in northern New York to inaugur- ate music instruction and an effective health program in the rural dis- tricts. However, Mr. Sealy's work was not confined to education. His partici- pation as a lay leader in the Episcopal Church in the Albany diocese and in the Central New York diocese has been a particularly active one. He is also a member of various lodges and granges and has always taken an enthusiastic part in community projects. Thirty years as superintendent, one of the longest records in Lewis County, has brought most of the population under Mr. Sealy's guidance at one time or another. Boys and girls kept his friendship as they became men and women, continuing to feel free to go to him with any problems, business or personal, knowing they would receive frank and helpful advice. Mr. Sealy is retiring, but fortunately he will continue to reside in Lewis County. He will be among us, willing and able to give his help to all who seek it. Seldom a person experiences the opportunity to associate with a man of such a broad, humanitarian, and philosophical outlook on life.