Dr. Ted Wachter and his wife, Jan Collins stand in front of student art at Rosewood Elementary School. It took,a lot of effort to pull a fast one on Dr. Ted Wachter, Rosewood Elementary School’s principal of 34 years, but on May 14, it happened.

More than 400 students, parents, teachers and well–wishers snuck through the back door of the cafeteria, dressed in T–shirts sporting a Dr. Wachter–like caricature, donned their plastic glasses/ mustaches, and waited as quietly as they could for his entrance.

Wachter, told there was a leak in the cafeteria, came strolling down to investigate. Gotcha! Four hundred voices, to the tune of the Adams Family theme, sang:

“He’s silly and he’s kooky,

he has a flying monkey,






He’s all together goofy




with students of the week.




His office is a museum





where students come to see


him.



He gives us lots of noogies






and tells us corny jokes.”

Dr. Wachter with Kindergarten and first grade students The already raucous crowd went even more nuts when Wachter, who is retiring at the end of the school year, tossed his flying monkey into the throng. Then the official proceedings started, with Columbia Mayor Bob Coble’s proclamation that May 14 was “Dr. Wachter Day,” the presentation of a plaque and a key to the city, and short speeches from various representatives.

“This is the key to the city that indeed opens all of our hearts,” said Coble, whose six children attended the school during Wachter’s tenure. “This is a very special day.”

Dr. Wachter Day at Rosewood Elementary School Richland School District One superintendent Dr. Percy A. Mack said the students and faculty should congratulate themselves for “pulling it over on him.”

He then complimented Wachter on his dedication to the school and the district.

“Dr. Wachter has always been about education and how to do things better,” Mack said of Wachter, who has held his position in the school district longer than anyone else. “You’ve given your prime and given your all to this school.”

The always–frank Wachter had some kind words to return to Mack.

“I’ve been here a long time, and, as far as superintendents, we’ve had some real …… doozies,” Wachter said. “I hate that now we are finally with a good one, and I’m leaving.”

Dr.Wachter with Mayor Coble and Dr. Percy Mack After the ceremony, Wachter said he was truly surprised by the ambush, which was confirmed by his wife, Jan Collins, who had been informed months ago of the plot.

“He said to me this morning ‘it’s going to be a very quiet day today,’” Collins said. “He had no idea.”

That sense of the unknown, Wachter said, extends to his life after retirement.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do after this,” he said. “I’m going to take some time to figure out the next chapter of my life.”

What it won’t involve, Collins said, is his longtime habit of memorizing the names of every new student at Rosewood, a ritual he perfected over his three decades of leadership.

“He would get pictures of all the kindergartners and study them before school started, so he could greet them by name on the first day,” Collins said. “Even today, he still remembers them. We will be out, and some adult will come up and say ‘I bet you don’t know who I am.’”

Ninety percent of the time, Wachter can recall, his wife said.

“Sometimes he asks for their first initial, and then it just comes to him,” she said. “It’s amazing.”

Wachter said he was truly touched by the children’s efforts on his special day, and his wife added that while he is ready to retire, it will be a difficult day when he packs up his monkeys, Sponge Bob characters, and various toys for the last time.

He got a preview of that wave of emotion as the children sang their final song to him.
“Sayonara, Sayonara,








Now as our time with you


ends,




We sing goodbye to our


friend.






Sayonara, Sayonara,








Thank you very much for

being our principal.”