The Whiteboard Jungle: Remembering Duncan’s work in Glendale schools
Don Duncan, who passed away on Dec. 15 at age 82, is someone whose work in Glendale schools should be remembered.
Mr. Duncan (I can’t let go of the formal title) graduated from Hoover High School in 1952, then taught in the Glendale Unified School District in 1957.
He became principal of his alma mater in 1974 and remained in that position until he left in February 1995 to recruit students for California’s first full-time evening high school in order to ease overcrowding in Glendale schools.
By May, when it became clear that was not materializing, Mr. Duncan expressed regret in a News-Press interview that “if I had any feeling that it was not going to work, then I would have preferred to stay at Hoover.”
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His tenure in Glendale ended without much fanfare even though he and his brother Charles combined for nearly 80 years of service to Glendale’s schools, and their father owned Duncan’s Variety Store in Kenneth Village.
I interviewed with Mr. Duncan for a teaching job when I earned my credential. While there weren’t any openings, he kept me in mind, and when the 1989-90 school year began (in September, by the way), and a position opened up, Mr. Duncan called me and asked if I was still interested.
The problem was that I had just started my first teaching job for the Los Angeles Unified School District at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles.
It was two weeks into the school year and Don’s brother, who was in charge of human resources for Glendale Unified, was able to get me out of my L.A. Unified contract, and in September 1989, I made my debut at Hoover.
Mr. Duncan came across as paternal, always in the main office in the morning greeting teachers as they arrived, his height and gray hair adding to an “in-charge” presence without an air of intimidation. He was even-tempered, “cool as a cucumber” according to granddaughter Nicole, never tipping off if things were going well or not.
Often not going lockstep with the district, he used to joke that we were the Hoover Unified School District. One example of this was back in 1987 when the school newspaper wanted to publish an ad for condoms right before the prom. And Mr. Duncan supported the publication of it. Unfortunately, district officials heard about this and put a stop to the ad before it was published.
In my 24 years of doing the school newspaper, I have had my share of run-ins with principals about stories. I only had one with Mr. Duncan, and he supported my decision. In fact, he loved the school newspaper. He often would come to the journalism class and tell the students “nice job,” which meant so much to the kids.
Mr. Duncan gave all teachers a generous present of a one-hour coupon for him to cover a class period anytime someone wanted to run an errand or take a walk.
He enjoyed dressing up as Santa Claus on the last school day before Christmas vacation, and would host staff Christmas parties at his house. He also enjoyed speaking on the P.A. about historical days on the calendars, so that students understood why school was closed.
City Halls memorialize council members. Schools should have a way to honor teachers, administrators, clerks and custodians who dedicate their careers to education.
Here is a man who devoted his adult life to Hoover, the longest tenured principal in the school’s history (almost 21 years), yet his name is nowhere to be found on campus.
Before another street is named for real estate developer Rick Caruso, consideration should be given to the Duncan family in ensuring their legacy does not disappear from Glendale’s history.
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BRIAN CROSBY is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District and the author of “Smart Kids, Bad Schools” and “The $100,000 Teacher.” He can be reached at briancrosby.org.
