Bayview Ave. School principal tearfully said goodbye

Admitting she was moving faster than her emotions could keep up, Freeport Bayview Avenue School principal, Odette Wills, reached for a tissue as tears slowly rolled down her face. Last Friday was the last day of school and in only a week, she would pass on the reins of principal to Mary Garguilo, who wrapped up the school year as assistant principal of Archer Street Elementary School, starting in July.

“My retirement is becoming very real to me because I’ve been in go-mode for so long, that I haven’t had time to think about the fact that my life is really going to change,” said Wills, as she softly sobbed.

“I’m ready for change, but I will miss the children the most and the relationships that I shared with parents, staff, faculty and my supervisors.”

With July only a few days away, Wills jokingly says she doesn’t know how to even start cleaning her office filled with the 13 years of memories she has as principal, but vows it will get done in time for Garguilo to step in on her first day.

Currently serving the Freeport school districts as the assistant principal at Archer Street Elementary for the past seven years, Garguilo started her career in Freeport as a part-time teaching assistant at both Giblyn and Columbus Avenue schools. Wills says, Garguilo, will bring a very unique perspective to the position as principal because she has worked in multiple roles within the school, and has experience as a parent and grandparent.

“When you aspire to a position like this, you want to do a good job, which will involve pulling all that you are and all that you’ve learned, from all of the roles that you’ve functioned in, to be able to do the job well,” said Wills. “The best advice that I would give to Ms. Garguilo is to listen, to observe and no matter what role someone has in the school, always approach them with respect and they will always listen.”

As principal at Bayview, Wills handled around-the-clock issues, cares and concerns of staff, students, parents and supervisors. Wills’ strongest quality, in her opinion, was her ability to give the students and community at Bayview what she perceives as the best of herself, by loving them and listening to them through an open-door policy.

“When kids came through my door saying, ‘Ms. Wills can I talk to you,’ I would welcome them with open arms and they always knew that they were be loved by me,” said Wills. “Children don’t want to know how much you know, unless they know how much you care, because when something is told to them from a heart of love, children listen.”

Wills shared she hoped she instilled in the children an attitude that accepts responsibility and makes better choices to be accountable to themselves during her tenure. Adding she will miss the bonds she formed with others at the school, she views her staff as extraordinary and capable of always doing an exceptional and outstanding job making sure the kids are taken care of.

Despite her feelings of sadness, Wills also feels excited about her retirement. Stepping into retirement, Wills has plans to travel the world and devote her time to Christian ministry at Bethel Gospel Tabernacle in Jamaica, Queens – finally an opportunity she says she didn’t have time to do while principal.

“I’m an ordained minister, but when I became principal I couldn’t teach Bible school anymore because the time commitments didn’t work well with the job,” said Wills, as a smile formed on her face despite her tears. “Oh yes, I am absolutely excited to teach Bible school again because I haven’t done it in 13 years.”