Jan. 22, 2014:  An unusual silence fell upon the Bronxville Board of Education on January 16 when board president David Brashear called for a motion to accept the retirement of Assistant Superintendent Dr. John Kehoe, effective January 24, after 32 years of service to The Bronxville School.

After a few seconds, laughter broke out in the multipurpose room, and board vice president Denise Tormey reluctantly made the motion, which received a second and the needed approval.

Shortly after accepting Kehoe's retirement, however, the board approved a motion to rehire him on a part-time temporary basis as director of operations beginning February 1 with a contract running through June 30, 2015.

Faced with college graduation in 1970 and grateful for having escaped the Vietnam War draft with a lottery number of 212, English major John Kehoe needed a job. "As a lot of people would say, I wasn't sure where I was going," he said. "So when a friend of mine said his former elementary school was looking for an eighth grade teacher, I took the job."

After a few years, Kehoe moved to a Catholic high school and found that he enjoyed teaching as well as coaching baseball. Kehoe has stayed active in baseball as a high school and college umpire, an activity he still enjoys. "I guess not being the most popular guy on the field carries over to being an administrator," he laughed.

Within the parochial school environment, Kehoe became dean of students and served as an assistant principal and found he had the skills not only to teach, but also to be an administrator. When he wanted to start a family, he realized he would have to find a better-paying public school position.

"I answered seventeen ads in the New York Times for public spots, primarily for assistant principals," Kehoe said. He heard about Bronxville from his aunt, who had friends in the village. He interviewed in June of 1981 and was hired in August as assistant principal of the junior/senior high school when there were two schools, kindergarten through grade 6, and grades 7 through 12.

Kehoe's proudest achievement was set in motion in the mid-1980s when the district decided to form a middle school and tapped him to serve as its first principal. "We opened the doors in 1986," Kehoe said. "It was the right thing to do for the kids in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and I was given an opportunity to form a school with wonderful faculty members, colleagues, and a supportive community and board. And now it's 28 years later and the middle school still exists for all the right reasons. I like to see that."

Kehoe remained in charge of the middle school and assumed additional duties as high school principal for two years in the mid-1990s. In 2000, the district created the assistant superintendent position. "I was lucky enough to get that, and the rest is history," he laughed. He noted that, although the position was intended to be a curriculum instruction position, over the years it evolved into more of an operations position.

"I've always loved the uniqueness of each day that an administration gives," Kehoe said. "Nothing is ever exactly the same, and a new bunch of challenges always excited me."

What advice does Dr. John Kehoe have for his successor? "Realize that this community is with you. Realize that they expect a lot out of you, but that comes with the territory. Have a good sense of humor. Be straightforward and decisive, and know how to laugh."

Pictured here:  Dr. John Kehoe, who will retire as of January 24 after 32 years of service to The Bronxville School.

Photo by A. Warner