June 23, 2008

Saying goodbye, thank you to Muncie schools superintendent

Retiring Muncie Community Schools superintendent Dr. Marlin Creasy

embraces his wife after the ceremony in his honor at Wilson Middle

School. (Melanie Maxwell / The Star Press)

By KELLY DAY
kday@muncie.gannett.com

By the time the reception honoring retiring Muncie Community Schools Supt. Marlin Creasy was over, Cindy Williams had to wipe away tears.

As his secretary for 10 years, she never wanted to miss a single day of work.

"I'm going to miss him in the office," she said.

Creasy has become part of her family, she said, adding that he was a good man, and he never looks down on anyone.

More than 100 people joined Williams in thanking Creasy for his service as superintendent of Muncie schools at a Sunday afternoon reception at Wilson Middle School.

As an educator for 40 years, Creasy started as a teacher in Gary Public Schools in 1968. In 1998, after working in five other school districts including neighboring Delaware Community Schools, he became superintendent in Muncie.

In the past 10 years, he's become a mentor to many, including Joyce Jamerson, a former teacher at Longfellow Elementary School, now an elementary education instructor at Ball State University.

"I have not had a father in my life since I was growing up and for me, Dr. Creasy has filled that void in my life," Jamerson said.

He has always encouraged Jamerson and her husband, Derrick, to go further in their careers, she said. Derrick Jamerson -- now principal of Longfellow -- got his principal's license with Creasy's encouragement, and Joyce, her master's degree.

"He's been a great mentor for our family," Joyce Jamerson said. "It's really sad to see him go."

To Jamerson, Creasy's has demonstrated the same care to the students in Muncie. She remembers a time when one of her students at Longfellow Elementary wrote him a thank you note and told him about her birthday. When her birthday came, Creasy brought her cookies -- enough to share with the whole class.

"He had me from that point," Jamerson said.

Williams has noticed the same thing in Creasy, she said. When her parents were sick, he made sure she took the time off she needed. If she isn't there, he'll answer the phone immediately himself.

Creasy said his mother, a retired school food service worker, taught him that everyone is important in education.

And while Creasy is retiring from Muncie schools, he doesn't plan to end his 40 year run in public education.

"I'll still be involved in public education, but not as a school superintendent," he said. "There are some areas that we're not free enough to talk about."

When asked what he will miss the most about being superintendent, he doesn't hesitate.

"There's no question; the students by far," Creasy said.

·  Contact news reporter Kelly Day at 213-5827.