CHS bids farewell to popular assistant principal

Henry “Hank” McDeed, the longtime CHS assistant principal whose straightforward approach and stoic yet friendly demeanor made him a favorite among students and staff, is calling it a career after 36 years in public education.

A former teacher and coach in the Seekonk school system, McDeed served for four years as an assistant principal at Lincoln High School in Rhode Island before finding a long-term home at Canton High, where he remained for the final 17 years of his career. Immersing himself in the school community, he quickly forged a reputation as a firm but fair administrator and has been widely credited as one of the primary drivers of culture at the school in the 21st century.

Mr. McDeed addresses incoming CHS freshmen during a Link Leader program.

In a retirement tribute video produced by TV Production teacher Ed McDonough, Danny Erickson, CHS athletic director and former social studies teacher, noted how McDeed made his presence felt from the moment he arrived at the school in 2001.

“Hank showed up at Canton High School and it was really like a new, huge force had stepped onto the campus and immediately you knew that this person was going to make a difference here,” said Erickson. “And over his 17 years here he’s made a huge difference … You look at him and stereotypically you kind of think this guy’s a tough guy who you don’t want to cross if you’re a kid, but the reality is I’ve worked with him a ton of times with kids in trouble and he’s probably the most compassionate guy that I’ve ever worked with. There’s so much more than that tough persona that I think people see.”

While his physical presence is certainly imposing — he was a football star at Bishop Feehan in the 1970s and still jogs and lifts weights regularly — McDeed’s calling card was his perpetual calmness, a trait that he felt was essential to his success as an administrator.

“You’ve just got to stay level,” he said. “Oftentimes you’re walking into a situation that’s escalated and the first thing you want to do is de-escalate. If you’re amped up, you’re not going to de-escalate anything and certainly not the people around you.”

He jokingly recalled one time when he went home after breaking up a physical altercation and was surprised to find, several hours later, a blood stain on his shirt and a piece of lead from a pencil still sticking into his chest.

That ability to compartmentalize, and to remain calm in high-pressure situations, was something that McDeed said always came natural to him and therefore was somewhat difficult to describe. Colleagues also marveled at the ‘magic touch’ he had with students and staff.

“Mr. McDeed has a definite presence — it’s hard to put into words — that’s definitely going to be missed,” said veteran math teacher Maureen Brids Peloquin in the tribute video. “[I will miss] his perseverance and that he comes to work every day and does probably one of the hardest jobs in administering discipline in the most equitable way he can.”

Fabian Faublas, a member of the CHS Class of 2005 who returned to work in the school for a time with the CHARMS Collaborative, noted how he never fully understood McDeed’s role as an administrator until he became one himself. Now a dean at Foxborough Regional Charter School, Faublas said he has gained a much greater appreciation for McDeed and the impact he has had on students and staff over the years.

“As an administrator for school culture and understanding the negativity that may come with it, I appreciated him for the simple ‘good mornings’ knowing damn well there probably wasn’t much ‘good’ about it,” said Faublas.

McDeed agreed that the job had its share of challenges, including the fact that for 12 years, until a part-time dean position was added, he was responsible for handling student issues for the entire student body, grades 9-12.

“Looking back on my career I think it definitely had an impact on my ability to move forward as a principal because I really wasn’t involved in a lot of the aspects of being a building principal,” he said. “I was totally immersed in trying to do my job as an assistant principal.”

At the same time, McDeed said he accepted what the job entailed and is proud of the work he did and grateful for the relationships he forged during his time in Canton. He is particularly proud of his efforts to establish the Link Leader program, which trains upperclassmen to serve as mentors and role models to the incoming freshmen.

McDeed said the Link Leader program has not only been beneficial for the school, but it has also strengthened his personal relationships with students and given him a chance to meet and work with a broader spectrum of the student population. “I also think it’s been great for those kids to meet me and see what I’m about,” he said, “and it has really helped change the climate of the building tremendously. I think there’s really more of a school community because of that program and I hope that it continues.”

“The Legend” Hank McDeed

Many who worked with McDeed agreed that the Link Leader program was a fitting legacy for a man who always put students at the heart of his decision-making.

Jim Goff, a social studies teacher and former CHS dean of students, recalled that one of McDeed’s favorite questions to ask was, “Is this helping this student?”

“Sometimes he would have to make difficult decisions but would come back to, ‘Is this helping the kid?’” said Goff. “Canton High School will be a different place without him. In a time when people change jobs and move around, Hank stayed at CHS. You have to respect that level of commitment to a community.”

CHS Principal Derek Folan, who has forged a close working relationship and friendship with McDeed over the past six years, couldn’t say enough about what the fellow North Attleboro native has meant to the CHS community.

“Hank’s legacy is so powerful at Canton High School,” said Folan. “In a people business, for every student, every family, and every faculty member who needed support or guidance, he was there for them. He was the foundation of this school for 17 years and he created a culture that allowed teachers to teach and students to learn. He’s all heart and we are so appreciative of the impact he had on our lives.”

McDeed himself said it’s the people that he will miss most as he departs from CHS. “They’ve all been great and everybody really cares about kids and about their education and about the community,” he said.

McDeed said he did not want to name specific people for fear of leaving someone out, but he made an exception for his longtime administrative assistant, Heather Sullivan, who he described as the true “heart of Canton High School.”

“She has just helped me so much,” he said of Sullivan. “She’s always been there and is just a really great friend. I can’t say how much she’s meant to me in my career and helped me as a person continue to grow, and I’ve had an opportunity to watch her grow too, to become a mom. I just can’t say enough about her.”

As he prepares for retirement, McDeed said he has plenty to keep him busy and is especially looking forward to spending more time with his family, including his wife, Karen, their three adult children, and his granddaughter — with another baby, his first grandson, on the way.

Many of McDeed’s colleagues and former students agreed that Canton High School will not be the same without him, but they are appreciative of his contributions and wish him the best in this next chapter of his life.

“He’s such a person of great character and integrity, and he has the respect of everyone,” said Folan. “We all hope that he finds great happiness and joy in retirement. There are many seas to kayak, mountains to climb, moments to fish, and ribs to cook, in addition to those special moments with his family and his grandkids.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Jun 30 2018. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.