Moyer named Pennsylvania's top principal for 2020

Rupert Elementary School Principal Matt Moyer with some of his students.

Matt Moyer is not above getting his hands dirty for his students.

He's been slimed.

He's sported a $1,300 purple Mohawk.

He's been the star of home videos about science.

And now he's being recognized for all that and more.

Rupert Elementary School Principal Matthew Moyer has been named Pennsylvania's Distinguished Principal for 2020 by the Pennsylvania Principal's Association.

As such, he will represent the Keystone State during the selection of a national distinguished principal in the fall.

"Yeah, I was certainly surprised," Moyer told The Mercury on Friday. After being nominated, "I filled out the form and sent it off thinking, 'sure, I'll throw my hat in the ring,' but then I didn't think much more about it."

"I mean there are 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, and just think how many principals are in each one," Moyer said.

But then, "they contacted me for an interview by four previews winners" and then they interviewed the district superintendent, a Rupert teacher and a Rupert parent. They Moyer was interviewed by a recommendation committee, "and I started to think I had a shot."

Indeed he did. In fact, the recommendation to select Moyer as Pennsylvania's best principal of 2020 was unanimous.

Part of the process was asking Moyer to identify three of his most significant accomplishments.

On the list was his implementation of district-wide safety plans and the introduction of non-violent crisis intervention training.

Rupert Principal Matt Moyer welcomes parents during an

open house in 2014.

But ever-focused on students, the first accomplishment Moyer listed was the fact that he is frequently selected by Rupert alum to be a guest at their high school graduation, a long-standing Pottstown tradition which allows students to invite two teachers who had the greatest impact on them.

And who would he have invited?

A Rupert alum himself, Moyer finally settled on Mark Ottinger as the Rupert teacher who had the greatest impact on him, although it was a struggle.

"I remember every one of my teachers," Moyer said.

"My brothers used to come home from Rupert and say 'Mr. Ottinger said this and Mr. Ottinger said that.' In fact, he stopped by to visit Rupert two years ago and I was so great to talk to him again," said Moyer.

Moyer grew up on the 1100 block of Queen Street. His father David worked at Mrs. Smith's Pies, "until they closed, and then he worked at Neapco for a while until he retired."

His mother Linda, also an alum of Rupert, raised three boys, of which Moyer is the youngest, and was the secretary at St. John's United Church of Christ and at Pottstown Hospital.

Moyer talks with students about a tower garden at Rupert in 2017.

Moyer decided to go into education when he was a student at Pottstown High School.

"They had a program, I don't remember what it was called, but you could go into the schools and help out. I went into classrooms at Franklin," Moyer said. "At first I thought I wanted to be a police officer, but I knew from that point what I wanted to do."

After graduating, Moyer attended Shippensburg University, obtained his masters from Cabrini College and his superintendent's certification letter from California University of Pennsylvania.

His first teacher job was as a fifth grade teacher in Spring-Ford Area School District, and then it was on to Leesport, where he was the assistant principal at Schuylkill Valley Elementary School for three years.

In August of 2005, Moyer and Stephen Rodriguez were both hired as new principals in the district, Moyer at Rupert and Rodriguez at Pottstown High School.

Rupert Principal Matthew Moyer has sported some unique

hairstyles for his students over the years.

“Mr. Moyer has poured his heart and soul into Rupert Elementary for the past 15 years. He is a role model for using multiple forms of communications to build strong relationships with students,families,teachers and community," said Rodriguez, now the district's superintendent.

Those communications have become unique after the coronavirus pandemic closed all Pottstown schools. Moyer continued to keep his students engaged with a series of sometimes silly science videos shot around his house and posted on YouTube.

"He is the architect of the positive caring atmosphere at Rupert. We are so proud and thankful that he has received this national recognition," Rodriguez said.

Moyer singled out another district leader, former superintendent Jeff Sparagana.

"I would be remiss if I did not mention the impact Jeff Sparagana had on me and my career. He was my mentor and my boss for 10 years. He held us all to a higher standard and I am the better for it," Moyer said.

Saturday Party Celebrates Rupert's 90th Anniversary

The cover of the program from the original dedication ceremony of Rupert school.

We should all be so lucky — to look so good at 90 years old.

But with a shiny new wing, repointed brick and a new roof, Rupert Elementary School — Pottstown's oldest school building — is in pretty good shape.

That's a good thing because Rupert is being thrown a birthday party on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will include food trucks with pizza, ice cream, BBQ and snow cones.

Games including a dunk tank, a bounce house, an inflatable obstacle course, bowling, tennis, mini golf, corn hole, Large Jenga, Large Checkers, Large Connect 4 and even free bike helmets will be featured.

Of course, things were probably a bit more subdued on Aug. 29, 1928.

That's when the original dedication was made and according to the original program, there was some music, the "passing of the key" and some speeches, followed by the "Star Spangled Banner" and a benediction.

The groundbreaking had occurred a little more than a year before with "Professor Rupert" digging the first shovel full of dirt.

Rupert School Band, 1938, Elizabeth Jenkins directing

"Professor Rupert" is, of course, William Whitehead Rupert, who had come to Pottstown from Chester County nearly 50 years before. He was Pottstown's very first superintendent of schools and the educator for whom the school is named.

It was 1879 when the Pottstown School Board decided that the high school needed to be divided into two distinct schools "with boys under a male teacher and girls under a female teacher," according to a 2009 article published in The Mercury by local historian Michael T. Snyder.

(Snyder also wrote the Rupert Family History that was included in a time capsule created in 1978 at the school's 50th anniversary and is available online at www.pottsmerc.com.)

Rupert Elementary Fifth Grade, 1952

Although that decision to hire a male teacher for the boys was made in May, it wasn't until Aug. 28 that Rupert arrived in Pottstown and "took rooms at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Brooke Davis," according to the Aug. 28 1879 edition of The Daily Pottstown Ledger.

At the time, the borough's population was 5,305 and the schools had 709 students and 18 teachers.

At the time, there were only 70 students of high school age and no high school building, so they were taught in several classrooms at the Washington School building at Penn and Beech streets, the site of the current school administration building.

Rupert in 1978, on its 50th anniversary.

In 1888, when parts of "Pottsgrove Township" became part of the borough, the population jumped to more than 13,000 and the number of students also jumped from 1,074 to 1,766, according to Snyder's research.

With the sudden rise in student population, the school board voted unanimously on July 11 of that year to name Rupert as the first superintendent of Pottstown Schools.

So popular and effective was Rupert, that on June 12, 1913, on the occasion of his 25th year as superintendent, a special ceremony was held with testimonials and gifts including a "Russian wallet purse filled containing $100 in gold" and five weeks vacation, Snyder wrote.

Photo by Carol Brightbill

Rupert as it appears today.

In 1922, Rupert reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and he stepped down, but returned five years later to kick off construction on the school which still bears his name.

The cost of construction? Only $124,849.03.

Over the years, the Tudor-style building has seen several renovations and housed countless teachers and students.

One of those students was Linda Kachel, who was in fifth grade at Rupert in 1952.

Rupert Principal Matt Moyer with some of his students.

A generation later, she sent three sons to Rupert.

Kachel still lives on Queen Street and volunteers in the school as well.

One of those sons grew up to be the principal of Rupert Elementary School — Matthew Moyer.

Moyer will be front and center Saturday when his school celebrates its 90th birthday.

He is currently Pottstown's longest-serving principal and, who knows, may be here to help celebrate the school's 100th birthday as well.

What Justice Brings

Pottstown Human Relations Commissioner Rita Paez, center, with Connor Cobb and Umar Annable.

Blogger's Note: This from John Armato, the human community Relations machine: 

Rita Paez and Rupert Principal Matt Moyer
with Abigail Eagle and her work.

The Pottstown Human Relations Commission announced the winners of its 2012 elementary school poster contest. Rupert Elementary students Abigail Eagle, Connor Cobb, and Umar Annable were selected by a panel of commissioners as the students who best demonstrated the theme of this year’s contest – “What are the positive things that justice brings to the community?”

Commissioner Rita Paez paid a special visit to Rupert Elementary School to present the winners with certificates and monetary awards.

“The Pottstown Human Relations Commission is happy to be able to provide opportunities to help young people grow into the citizens who will be the leaders of our community,” said Paez.

Matt Moyer, Rupert Elementary Principal, said, “This is another outstanding effort on the part of our students that will help them learn the value of citizenship and community service. We are happy to partner with the Pottstown Human Relations Commission to help teach young people the individual value that each person has.”

Send your submissions to The Digital Notebook at ebrandt@pottsmerc.com

Rupert Reaches Out Over the Summer

Rupert Elementary School

So all you Rupert Elementary students and families, you thought summer meant no school?

Silly people. Have you not actually met Rupert Principal Matt Moyer?

Moyer and his staff have a whole slate of activities designed to keep the Rupert family together over the summer.


Here is a list:

JUNE:

Pottstown Regional Public Library

• Wednesday, June 27, at 10 a.m.m meet up at the Pottstown Public Library, 500 E. High St., for The Magic of Ran’D Shine! After the show there will be a tour of the Library and an opportunity to sign up for a Library Card.  

(For more information on Ran’d Shine, click this link: http://www.randyshine.com/bio/index.html)

(For more information on the Pottstown Regional Public Library, Click this link: http://ppl.mclinc.org/)

JULY:

Gallery on High

• Monday, July 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., find one of your teachers, either from last year or next year, serving ice cream at Dairy Queen, 1467 E. High Street.
• Thursday, July 19 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., meet up at the Gallery, 254 E. High Street, for a FREE FAMILY Art class.

(For more information about The Gallery on High, click this link: http://www.galleryonhigh.com/

The High Street Music Co.

• Wednesday, July 25 at 10 a.m., meet up at the High Street Music Company, 135 E. High St, for a demonstration and tour!

(For more information about the High Street Music Company, click this link: http://www.thehighstreetmusiccompany.com/

AUGUST

• Monday, Aug. 6 from 10 to11 a.m. High Street Yoga and Wellness Center, 141 E. High St., for a FREE FAMILY Yoga Class.Bring a yoga mat or towel for our class!

(For more information about High Street Yoga and Wellness Center, click this link: http://highstreetyoga.vpweb.com/)

• Tuesday, Aug. 14 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McDonald’s, 1428 E. High Street for McPrincipal’s Night! Purchase some dinner and visit with Rupert Staff.

**Parents MUST stay with their children for each event.**

There will be give aways at every event!

Every student that attends will be entered into a drawing to win a BIKE!

The winner will be drawn in August!

Hard to beat that folks!

How Much is a Purple Mohawk Worth?

Can't you just see Mr. Moyer with a nice purple Mohawk?

This is directed specifically toward the students of Rupert Elementary School and their families:

Hey kids, (and parents), wouldn't it be great to see your principal, Mr. Moyer, get his head shaved into a Mohawk and get it colored purple?

In front of the whole school?

Well I was about to tell you you could make it happen, and urge you on, until I just learned you already did it.

By bringing your spare change to school and donating it to the Pottstown Relay for Life, the world's fourth largest event of its type, you have obligated Mr. Moyer to make good on a pledge he made to you and make ever-so-slight a change in his appearance.

He said if you raised $500 by Friday with a coin collection, he would get his head shaved into a Mohawk and dyed purple, which is the national color for the Relay for Life.

(You may have noticed a lot of purple banners and things around town this month. That's why.)


Apparently, you did not need me to encourage you. I found out Monday that you have already raised $555.



And yes, there's something in it for you too. The classroom that collects the most money will receive a class party. So keep bringing in those coins.

Here are the classes to beat:

In the lead as of Monday was Mrs. Fazekas' third grade class with $100.98 raised.

In second place is Mrs. Wagner's first grade class, with $89.11 and, rounding out the field, is Miss Nosaka's first grade class with $78.64.

Provided as a public service to
help you envision Mr. Moyer's
new look come Friday.

But really, is there any reward more satisfying than seeing Mr. Moyer get his purple Mohawk kids?

Why not print out this blog entry? You can cut out the handy purple Mohawk I've provided and you can paste it on this picture of Mr. Moyer and hang it up around school to remind him what a good sport he is and how dashing he will look with his new hairdo.

Sure, that's its own reward, but there is a larger reward; you raised money for an organization that is trying to find a cure for cancer.

That cure could save your life some day, or the life of someone you love.

Even if you have already lost someone you love (and given what a tough disease cancer is, chances are you have) help make sure it doesn't take anyone else.

Besides, Mr. Moyer with a purple Mohawk?

What could be better than that?

Maybe he'll make the new look permanent...