Even in retirement Bushell advocates ‘kids come first’

Posted 9/23/14

Robert Bushell still knows how to hold the attention of a classroom.

But on Friday, Bushell didn’t have students at their desks and a blackboard behind him. They were at tables at the West …

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Even in retirement Bushell advocates ‘kids come first’

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Robert Bushell still knows how to hold the attention of a classroom.

But on Friday, Bushell didn’t have students at their desks and a blackboard behind him. They were at tables at the West Valley Inn and many of them had been his students or colleagues in the Warwick School Department. And many of them, like Bushell, are now retired.

This was the party that Bushell said wasn’t necessary, but his secretary Cindy Peloso was certain to make happen. Some had traveled cross-country to attend. More than 200 filled the room.

After the citation from Mayor Scott Avedisian declaring Friday as “Bob Bushell Day” in the city, Bushell took the microphone and, looking out at so many familiar faces, affectionately named many and recalled how they had been his students or how they had worked together. He called them “positive and upbeat people.”

Bushell also talked a bit about what he considered important and those programs for which he is particularly proud.

“Kids come first, that’s my motto,” he said. “I enjoyed what I did,” he continued, “The mentor program is one of the best programs we did.”

The program that matches an adult volunteer with a student an hour a week has been running for decades under the direction of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership. It has become a model for programs in other communities that, like Warwick, match a student in need of a mentor with a volunteer. Relationships that start in elementary school often carry through secondary school, college and beyond.

If there are any regrets, Bushell said, it is becoming a school administrator for 24 years, which took him away from teaching.

“You really miss the kids when you become a director,” he said. During his tenure, Bushell hired 47 principals – many of whom were in the room – and also found himself closing schools as enrollment dropped. But, he pointed out, with a reduction in students, the system was able to offer full-day kindergarten at a number of schools, most recently at Lippitt Elementary, where morning and afternoon kindergarten classes were consolidated last week for the first time.

“Whatever you do, do it for the kids,” he told his audience.

Bushell started in the Warwick system as a fifth grade teacher at Park Elementary 45 years ago. He served as principal at Lippitt for six years before assuming his director’s job. Bushell is a self-proclaimed “project boy” from South Providence.

“I was raised in the projects,” he said.

Bushell knew early on he wanted to be a teacher. At La Salle, Bushell considered becoming a teaching Christian Brother, but his life took a slight turn. He graduated from Rhode Island College, the first in his family to go to college.

In his remarks, Avedisian observed he was only 4 when Bushell started teaching in Warwick schools.

“I grew up fully under his leadership,” he said.

The mayor also talked of the long-term stability and relationships Bushell has brought to Warwick schools.

Often confused with Bushell (they are of the same build and age), retired principal Al Berger served as master of ceremonies. There was a certain amount of teasing about Bushell’s interest in food and how he would send out a list of local restaurants where he would be having lunch. He urged principals and fellow administrators to join him for lunch to discuss their concerns.

Becoming serious, Berger said Bushell “truly believes children deserve quality education,” and how he eliminated split-level classes and started all-day kindergarten classes.

“Everything he has done is in the best interest of students,” said Bethany Furtado, chair of the School Committee.

Lynn Dambruch, who succeeds Bushell as director of elementary education, called Bushell a “mentor and a friend and a great leader to us.”

Bushell’s sister, Donna DeBlasio of Cranston, brought wishes from the family and from former co-worker Bob Dooley, who now lives in Florida.

In an interview after announcing his retirement, Bushell said, “To educate a child, is to do your best as an educator to instill confidence in children so they can reach their full potential to do well throughout school, their social lives, when they go off to higher education and as community members.”

As for his own mentor, Bushell named the late Superintendent Robert J. Shapiro. Bushell didn’t match the 50 years Shapiro devoted to Warwick schools, but the commitment was no less.

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