Godwin Heights — With a bouquet of flowers in hand, first-grader Xaeda Cocarell made her way to the office of West Godwin Principal Mary Lang.
“Are those for me?” Lang said in her familiar cheery voice as she accepted the flowers and hugs.
This last day of school was particularly notable at West Godwin, as Lang, who has been with the district for 27 of her 34 years in education, announced her retirement in May. Her last day of work is today, June 30.
“I’m looking forward to having more time for my own family and doing some other things, but this is bittersweet,” Lang said, adding that she decided it was just time for her to retire.
She Connected With Many
There is no student in the district — unless they transferred in after second grade — who hasn’t been one of Lang’s.
“She is the reason I came back (to Godwin Heights),” said parapro and Godwin Heights graduate Mia Simmons about Lang. “She has such a commitment to the students and to us, the staff.
“It is just the care and love she has and shows to everyone. You don’t do this for the money; you do it for the relationships, and she built within the school that community and those relationships.”
Lang started with the district in 1998 as a reading teacher at West Godwin. Seven years later, she was appointed principal at South Godwin, now the district’s Early Education Center. In 2010, she became principal at North Godwin.
In 2019, West Godwin became a K-2 building and North Godwin became a 3-5 building. Lang decided to move to West Godwin because “it was home.”
But no matter which building she has been in, Lang said it has always been about the relationships: connecting with staff, students and families.
Meeting the Needs of the Whole Child
For Lang, helping a student succeed meant going beyond test scores and academics.
“I still remember when (former superintendent John) Felske talked to me about a new program that the Kent ISD was starting that focused on community and would help with food insecurities and family needs,” Lang said. “It was focused on the whole child.”
That program was the Kent School Services Network, and Godwin Heights was one of the first districts to partner with the program. Lang and former KSSN Coordinator Sarah Schantz have so far had the longest KSSN partnership, together for 14 years until Schantz left in December for another career opportunity.
They collaborated to provide transportation and essential resources, as well as organized the back to school bash for students and families, which featured food, activities and new backpacks for the kids, Lang said.
“We helped a family find a new home after their house burned down and delivered furniture to another,” she said. “It was about helping people.”
‘She’s a great helper’
On the last day, Lang sat in a classroom watching students participate in year-end activities when she received a message that she had an “important visitor.”
“Oh, he’s here,” she said excitedly as she hustled out of the classroom and walked the short distance to the school office.
No sooner did Lang walk in than first-grader Navion Wilson jumped into her arms. The two have formed a special bond, Lang said, adding she has helped Navion and his family navigate health issues.
“She’s a great helper. She’s very patient,” Navion said, before turning to Lang and saying to her, “I’m gonna miss you.”
Navion’s mother, Antanescha Vance agreed.
“It’s like, I can’t even put it into words,” said Vance, whose husband had been a student of Lang’s. “It feels like family. She’s like a second mom.”
Lang said it is because of the Godwin family that she never considered leaving the district, and just like any family member, she plans to come back and visit.
“I got to know everyone of the students and staff,” she said. “I had parents do school of choice because they loved it here and they wanted their children to have that same experience, which makes it all worth it.
“That’s what it’s all about, and it’s what has always made this place so special.”
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