Hansich Reflects on 30 Years at Butler High School

When William Hanisch finished his first year of teaching at New Milford High School, he decided teaching just wasn't for him. But after giving a try a few years later, his passion for the school and his job prevented him from doing anything else.

"I grew to love the students we had here at Butler. I loved what I was doing," he said, looking back.

Hanisch will work his last day as Butler High School principal Thursday after spending 14 years as principal and a combined 31.5 years with the school.

Hanisch said he remembers feeling a bit panicked his first day of teaching at Butler. After applying for the job, he received the phone call that he would be hired only one day before he was expected to be in the classroom. Hanisch taught science and later was instrumental in creating the Advanced Placement (AP) Biology and Genetics & Ethics courses.

"I actually never aspired to be principal," he said.

When Hanisch and several other co-workers applied for the position, Hanisch said the school was going through a difficult time as far as turnover of principals. Principals would come for about two years and leave, he said.

"It's difficult to develop a system of programs if you have that kind of turnover," he said.

When he was chosen, Hanisch gladly accepted.

Some of the accomplishments he is most proud of during his time as principal include developing a more comprehensive AP program, maintaining the community atmosphere among students, increasing student test scores and revamping the school's discipline policy along with Vice Principal John Vogel, who is also leaving the school.

"But mostly just that sense of community," he said.

When Vogel and Hanisch strengthened the discipline policy, it was important to them to not only include a consequence or punishment component, but to add a counseling element for the students so that the action does not happen again, he said. Hanisch said the new policy has also allowed the school administrators to have more open communication with parents.

In speaking of his favorite memories from working at the school, Hanisch said he has two. The first was the celebration of Butler High School's 100th graduation five years ago. For the first time, the school bought gowns for teachers who wanted to participate and there were fireworks at the ceremony. A 100-year-old resident who had graduated from Butler 82 years prior was also a part of the ceremony, Hanisch said.

"Oddly enough, my other favorite memory is 9/11," he said.

"The way the entire student body came together to support what was going on, it was absolutley moving."

Hanisch said the students raised money and gathered supplies for local organizations helping with clean up efforts and people in need.

Some of the challenges Hanisch said he has faced over the years include working with budgetary constraints. The elimination of certain positions has increased the workload on administrators, he said, making his, and other administrative positions, an "increasingly more difficult job."

Hanisch plans to take the summer off before figuring out what he will do next in his retirement, though he will not forget the time he spent at Butler High School.

"I want to thank everybody for all the support they've given me over the years, both the staff and my family," he said.