Barbara White named interim CPS principal
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT WRITER
Historian and veteran teacher Barbara White will serve as interim principal at the Cyrus Peirce School, returning to the school where she was a respected teacher for over 30 years.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent file White, who retired from teaching three years ago, assumes the position vacated by fellow colleague Lynn Kalman, who retired in June.

White, who retired from teaching three years ago, assumes the position vacated by fellow colleague Lynn Kalman, who retired in June. Although White is certified as a middle school and high school principal, her appointment, she insists, is temporary.

"I'm retired and I have no intentions of unretiring," she said. "They asked me and I said yes. I didn't have a reason to say no."

Come January, however, White and her husband, Mark, who retired from the Nantucket school system two years ago, will be off on a longplanned trip.

During her career, White was an involved and innovative educator who was recognized by colleagues and students for her knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism. She continually sought out new teaching methods and throughout her career served as a mentor to both students and fellow teachers.

Since her retirement from teaching she has become more deeply involved in historical research. Her current subject is, coincidentally, Cyrus Peirce, who was a pioneer in U. S. education and an active abolitionist. In 1978 she published "The African School: The Integration of Nantucket Public Schools," which was later made into a documentary video for public television. White says she will soon republish the book with an added third of new material unearthed through further research.

She said she is looking forward to her return to education, even if the reunion is brief. "It's a school I know and people I know and I love the island," she said. "It should be a good match.

"Cyrus Peirce's motto was, 'Live to the truth.' This will be another adventure."

In the meantime, the schools will hire a professional search firm to

help find a new principal. I