WEST SUNBURY - The cliché about someone "putting the pal in principal" usually evokes eye-rolling and other gestures from people who think it's lame.

But the students and staff at Dassa McKinney Elementary School think there's no better phrase to describe their principal, Jim Wetzel.

THAT'S WHY THEY ARE mourning Wetzel's retirement. The principal will retire this June after 33 years in the district.

"We're all so sad he's leaving. He's a wonderful educator," said Karen Hall, Dassa McKinney's learning support teacher. "We keep hoping he'll change his mind and stay another year."

Hall, who has worked with Wetzel for 26 years, first dealt with him when she was at the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City. Then she came to Dassa McKinney as its learning support teacher.

Hall said Wetzel is a rare gem because he is always willing to listen to suggestions when it comes to education and discipline of students.

"His biggest strength is his interest in us as people, not just as teachers," she said.

Gay Travaglio, a fifth grade teacher, agreed. She's worked with Wetzel in one capacity or another since 1975.

"As a boss, he has been excellent to the staff," she said. "He sees all of us as human beings, as mothers and as families first."

Travaglio recalled Wetzel's teaching days, calling him "a real natural" in the classroom.

WETZEL'S RAPPORT with the students has only expanded as he moved into his current administrative position.

"He's so visible in our hallways," Travaglio said. "He knows our kids. He has a really good rapport with the students and the teachers. I will have a hard time letting him go."

Travaglio isn't the only one who will miss Wetzel. Several students said it's just not going to be the same without him.

Third grader Jarrod Hull has participated this year in an accelerated reading program Wetzel started years ago in the district. Children in the program read to Wetzel during a special story time to help them improve their reading skills.

"It's been really, really fun working with him," Hull said, adding he's read to Wetzel at least seven times this year. "He made it fun. He's easy to work with."

Sydney Boben, a fifth grader in the program, said she likes the way Wetzel encourages them to do better and rewards them with pretzels and smiles when they show improvement.

"Mr. Wetzel is a really nice guy," she said.

Third grader Evie Tebay said the thing she's going to miss most about Wetzel is "whenever he put on a smile" when she was reading to him.

MONITEAU SUPERINTENDENT Michael Panza is not surprised to hear so many kind words about Wetzel.

"Just say the name Jim Wetzel and you think of the Moniteau School District and the Dassa McKinney Elementary School," Panza said.

Wetzel was hired at Moniteau in 1969 as a student teacher at Concord Elementary School, Panza said.

"Upon completion of his student teaching, the district was so impressed with Mr. Wetzel that he was hired and assigned to the Washington Elementary School to teach a combined fourth and fifth grade classroom," Panza said.

It wasn't long before administrators noticed Wetzel's leadership ability and promoted him to the building head at Washington Elementary School. He transferred to Dassa McKinney in 1973, where he has been ever since.

"Mr. Wetzel has been principal to over 3,000 students," Panza said. "He has become the principal to children of his former students. The district thanks (him) for his 33 years of dedicated service to the students and the entire Moniteau community."

Fourth grade teacher Gary Kohlmeyer has been at Dassa McKinney for 38 years. He's worked with Wetzel for 35 of those years.

Kohlmeyer said his relationship with Wetzel was unique because aside from Wetzel being his boss, they also were friends.

"It's hard to be the boss of your friend, but he did a good job with that," Kohlmyer said, smiling.

Kohlmeyer admits he and Wetzel have had their differences when it comes to administrative issues, but he's respected him despite some of those differences.

"He's been very, very professional, very easy to work with," Kohlmeyer said. "In fact, and I hate to admit this, I'm going to miss him."

Kohlmeyer said he wants people to realize just how much Wetzel has done for the Moniteau community and the students at Dassa McKinney.

Wetzel was responsible for starting the field trips to Gettysburg, Niagara Falls and other historic places. Prior to that, many of Dassa McKinney's students had never been anywhere other than their hometowns, Kohlmeyer said.

"I don't think people realize what an accomplishment that was," he said. "Field trips weren't an everyday occurrence here."

Kohlmeyer said he hates to see his friend go, because he's a good administrator.

"I always joke with him that I broke him in as a principal here, and now I'll have to break in a new person," he said, laughing.