At the end of this school year, Indian Valley Middle School principal Jeff Pammer plans to retire and spend his retirement with the people he loves and appreciates the most.
“I want to spend more time with my kids who are all older now and my granddaughter, and do some things,” Pammer said.
Pammer said he also plans to golf and fish.
While Pammer has been working in public education for 42 years, 24 of those years have been with the district.
After teaching math and coaching football, track and weightlifting at Mainland Senior High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, Pammer served as principal at both Indian Crest Middle School and West Broad Street Elementary School before landing at Indian Valley.
According to Pammer, the Souderton Area School District has been an “awesome” environment in which to work.
“The teachers, the students and the parents, it’s just my opinion, [but it’s] the best community in the world,” Pammer said.
For Pammer, his goal as a teacher was to be the finest teacher he could be, and to see the most growth out of his students.
“The goal as a teacher is to make sure I did the best that I can every day with the students that I worked with,” Pammer said.
Pammer’s goal as a principal was similar but on an even larger and more personal scale.
“It’s important to get to know everyone.” Pammer said. “It’s very important to know your colleagues.”
Pammer knows that “when you’re honored and people get recognized for whatever they did, it’s a short-lived experience,” but when looked back upon, he wants to be remembered as himself and no one else.
“Just that I was a good principal, a good colleague,” Pammer said, “a good person, a caring person and energetic.”
Pammer said his final message to his former students and soon to be former colleagues is thank you for everything.
“Just a thank you for putting up with me for all these years. I’ll miss all of you,” Pammer said.
According to Indian Valley social studies teacher Thomas Weir, Pammer is a caring man who always puts other people first.
“He always put family first and truly cared about his staff. He always made us laugh and he always cared about his staff as people first,” Weir said.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports Facilitator Lori Graf said that Pammer influenced her not only in teaching, but in life.
“Dr. Pammer’s influence played a pivotal role in shaping my teaching journey,” Graf said. “His mentorship and encouragement gave me the push I needed to not only move to a new building but take on a new role at Indian Valley.”
Indian Valley assistant principal Catherine Heller said Pammer always made work fun and she tries to be more like him in this aspect.
“Dr. Pammer truly emulates how to find joy in your work,” Heller said. “He showed me the joy in seeing the transformation in the lives of young people impacted by the educational community he fostered.”
According to Indian Valley secretary Brena Huggins, Pammer was always a joy to be around and she inspires to be just like that.
“Dr. Pammer always has a smile on his face,” Huggins said. “He’s lighthearted and easy going so I try not to be so serious.”