New principal is a familiar face to former Helen Morgan students

SPARTA — As principal of the Helen Morgan School, he held the hands of children and wiped fear away from the faces of incoming kindergartners. He held the school together during September 11, 2001, and participated as pallbearer at the funeral of one of his students. He was a recipient of many birthday cupcakes and marched in the annual Halloween Parade. He’s Dennis Tobin and the Sparta School District recently welcomed him back he fondly refers to as his professional home. Tobin, the new high school principal, has been in education for 26 years. Twenty of those years were spent as a teacher and coach in Sparta High School and later as assistant principal, and then principal of the Helen Morgan School. In 2005 Tobin left Sparta to serve Hardyston school district. “The one thing I missed while serving as Superintendent at Hardyston was the daily interaction I enjoyed with the staff and students. I have had the good fortune during my career to work with students on all three levels, elementary, middle, and high school,” said Tobin. “The biggest difference between the elementary and high school levels is that elementary students are young, innocent, and easy to please, while high school students are young adults who need avenues to express their concerns and provide input as to what is happening around them in school.” Tobin recalls reading to the younger children at Helen Morgan, and having discussions with them. Alan Lennox, currently a sophomore at Sparta High, remembers Tobin reading a book to his class. “I remember thinking he was a pretty cool guy, and very tall. I think that he will be a good principal, and I also hope I am not in his office too much,” Lennox said with a laugh. Tobin has been catching up on his students’ lives in and out of school while recalling names as he greets some familiar faces each morning outside the building. Megan Gorrell, also a former Helen Morgan student, recalls disputes over crayons, monkey bars, and coloring books. “Mr. Tobin would solve the problem by making us take turns or giving us our own crayon boxes,” said Gorrell. Although it’s unlikely Tobin will be settling arguments over crayons in the high school, he said he looks forward to developing relationships with the students. “Although I am starting a new position it’s nice to know so many teachers and students from my previous time in Sparta. It has been most rewarding and I have truly enjoyed talking to my former students and seeing how much they have matured and grown up over the years,” said Tobin.