SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — The achievements of Wonder Woman are insignificant when compared to Lakeside’s principal.
Sylvia Atkinson (Gaukel) was born and raised in Conneaut. She is the middle child of six children, having three brothers and one sister. She has many good memories of her childhood and teen-age years. When she attended Conneaut High School she was a very involved Spartan, and she participated in National Honor Society, Student Council, French Club, Prom Committee, intramural sports, cheerleading, band and performing arts.
After graduating from high school, she attended Bowling Green State University. In true super heroine fashion, she completed a four year degree in education in only three years and graduated in 1973 as a Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society member. At that time in her life, Mrs. Atkinson’s plan was to teach for a couple of years, attend law school, and finally have a career as a juvenile judge. However, life happened and Mrs. Atkinson continued her career as an educator and eventually obtained a master’s degree in school administration from Edinboro University. She laughs when talking about her “possible legal career” and says that, either way she was destined to work with young people. During these early career years, she was also busy raising a family while attending college and working as a principal first at Harbor High School and then at Columbus Junior High School.
Both Mrs. Atkinson and her husband, Terry, are very proud of their seven children. Their oldest, David, is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is working as a mechanical engineer for Caterpillar. Chad, the second oldest, graduated from Cornell and the University of Illinois and is a professor at Wright State University where he teaches economic statistics. Joseph, who attended Youngstown State University Dana School of Music, is a musician, whose band, Truth and Salvage Company, recently created a CD with Sony records. Last week they traveled to Baghdad, Iraq, to perform for the United Service Organization. Sarah, the middle child, attended Kent State University and graduated from Memphis State University as an elementary teacher. A graduate of Penn State University, Brian travels the world as a mechanical engineer for General Electric Co. Marnie attended Edinboro University, like her mother, and is a sociologist. The youngest sibling, Matthew, went to Miami University of Ohio and is a third-year medical student at Lake Erie College of Medicine in Florida.
Mrs. Atkinson is completing her second year as principal at Lakeside High School. When interviewed about her position she said, “I believe that the most important quality one needs …is a positive belief and genuine caring for students. Integ-rity is essential. Students and staff must know that you say what you mean and mean what you say.”
She is a super person and a super administrator. She is “Super Sylvia!”
Next Generation
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Discussion
Atkinson is Lakeside’s resident ‘super heroine’
Lakeside High School with BRIAN MEHALIC & ERICA VILLA
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