Remembering Huntington’s Longest Serving Principal
She retired more than 50 years ago, but Agnes B. Bailey remains the longest serving principal in Huntington School District history, with a 36-year run as an elementary school principal.
Mrs. Bailey, who resided at 77 Grandview Street in Huntington, was born in Oneonta, New York on December 4, 1893, graduating from high school there in June 1912. She studied education and teaching at what was then known as Oneonta State Normal School, earning a teacher’s license in 1914. She later engaged in coursework at Teacher’s College at Columbia University and at New York University.
Mrs. Bailey worked in Schenectady, first as a “critic” in a training school in 1914/15 and then as a fourth grade teacher. Her career in Huntington began on September 7, 1921 as a fourth grade teacher at Lowndes Avenue School. The next year she moved to the eighth grade level. In 1924, only her third year in the district, she was elevated to principal of the school.
Lowndes Avenue School was built in 1913 at a cost of $58,000. It was a two-story, eight classroom, stucco covered structure on three acres of land. Lowndes Avenue was named for a prominent family that was large landholders in Huntington Station. A 1926/27 addition, which cost $99,409, doubled the size of Lowndes Avenue School to 16 classrooms. It was then renamed Roosevelt Elementary School in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. The school’s dedication ceremony was attended by Edith Roosevelt, the late president’s wife and son, Archibald, who would also attend the school’s closing ceremonies in January 1967.
Known as a no-nonsense principal, Mrs. Bailey was stern looking in appearance. She ran the school with an iron hand. Prior to the opening of Robert K. Toaz Junior High School in 1939, Lowndes Avenue/Roosevelt School accommodated students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
After 36 years as principal, and 38 years in the district, the 65-year old Mrs. Bailey decided it was time to call it quits. She sent a letter to Superintendent J. Taylor Finley on March 23, 1959, announcing her intention to resign for the purpose of retirement, effective at the close of the school year in June.
“I feel the necessity of being relieved of the responsibilities of administration,” Mrs. Bailey wrote in her letter. “It has been a pleasure to have spent these years in the beautiful village of Huntington. I have a feeling of regret over severing these pleasant contacts I have had during this time.”
Mrs. Bailey thanked “the Board of Education for their consideration and interest in Roosevelt School where I have spent these years.” She also gave a nod of appreciation to J. Taylor Finley, “the one superintendent of five Huntington has had, who is respected and admired for his leadership and understanding of personnel and of all phases of education. It has certainly been a pleasure to work with him.”
The Huntington School Board accepted the resignation and retirement request at its April 14, 1959 meeting. The next day, Mr. Finley sent a letter to Mrs. Bailey at Roosevelt School telling her that the letter of resignation was read and “accepted with regret” by trustees.
The Board of Education passed the following resolution: “Resolved, That Agnes B. Bailey, having served the children of the district as teacher and principal for the past thirty-eight years, be informed of the sincere appreciation of the Board of Education for her long and faithful service, and that best wished for a happy retirement so well deserved be extended.”
An outpouring of good will was extended by large numbers of community members, too. It was hard for them to imagine Roosevelt School with Mrs. Bailey. She returned to the school in January 1967 for its closing ceremony.
“The children of Roosevelt School have been her primary concern: their growth; physical and mental, social, and spiritual,” according to a district newsletter mailed to residents in June 1959. “With the constant cooperation of both teachers and parents, her goal has been to enable each individual child to obtain the fullness of his capacity; that he may now and in the future maintain and contribute high standards in the community and in life.”
More than 50 years after she retired, Mrs. Bailey’s long tenure as a principal has never been eclipsed.
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