Clay Elementary School principal announces retirement

Joy Darkes, Clay Elementary School principal, recently announced her plans to retire in December.

“I am planning to start a new chapter in my book of life — not an ending — just a new beginning filled with new dreams, wonderful sunny days and golf carts,” she said. Her resignation will be formally approved at the Sept. 25 school board meeting.

Darkes joined the Ephrata Area School District staff in July 2001 as the Lincoln Elementary School principal. When Lincoln Elementary School closed in June of 2006, Darkes was appointed the associate principal at Clay Elementary School in August 2006 to work alongside Principal Thomas Legath.

In addition to her responsibilities as associate principal, she served as the district reading coordinator to oversee the development of district elementary reading and writing curricula.

Darkes was appointed as the Clay Elementary principal on July 1, 2008, upon the retirement of Legath.

“Ms. Darkes has provided strong, consistent leadership at Clay Elementary School and throughout the District for many years. Staff, students, and the entire community have benefited from her devoted service.

She brought many strengths to her role — most notably, an outstanding school culture and literacy leadership Districtwide,” said Dr. Jacy Clugston Hess, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education.

Throughout Darkes’ 16-year tenure with the district, she has helped lead and manage the Pennsylvania Title I program and spearheaded efforts that resulted in Clay Elementary School being named a 2013-14 Title 1 High Achievement Award Recipient and PA National Title 1 Distinguished School.

“Serving the students of the Ephrata Area School District has always been a top priority for Ms. Darkes. We are a better district thanks to her strong and steady leadership and her obvious passion for educating children. She will be missed,” Superintendent Dr. Brian Troop said.

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