Parade of vehicles celebrates Upper St. Clair principal’s retirement
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Vehicles full of students and their parents line up at Streams Elementary School during the celebration honoring Claire Miller.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Ana Wagner wishes her principal well.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Lauren and Jonah Compel greet Claire Miller.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
“This principal loves her school”
From left, Oliver and Jack Rockenstein express their sentiments.
Linda Schill, right, joins Claire Miller in greeting a well-wishing friend.
Clara and Fritz Feuerhake show their appreciation.
Wishing Claire Miller a happy retirement are occupants of a car who also are named Miller: Carson, left, and Brady at the top, plus mom Carole.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Juliette and Cole Hirzel add to the festivites.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Gabriel Moran displays his sign.
Well-wishers get ready to show their sign to Claire Miller.
Plenty of people brought signs in honor of Claire Miller.
Only in 2020 can a mask say it all.
“This principal loves her school” announced the one worn by Claire Miller as she greeted groups of well-wishers Tuesday afternoon. And although it covered her face, everyone knew she was smiling underneath.
After 16 years, Miller retired as principal of Streams Elementary School in Upper St. Clair.
To celebrate the occasion in a safe manner, students and their parents formed a parade of vehicles that at times snaked around the back of the school building.
Many of the youngsters brought gifts and displayed signs to show their appreciation, and Miller, in turn, spoke about hers.
“I cannot say enough about our teachers and our families here at Streams,” she said, and that especially applies to the challenges that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our students have been expected to be responsible for their learning in ways that had never been imagined before,” Miller added. “Parents have had to be by our side every step of the way, supporting their children, and our teachers have been remarkable at learning to do things in completely new ways, really in the spur of the moment.”
An Allegheny College graduate who went on to earn her master’s degree from Westminster College and doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, Miller worked as a teacher and administrator for Seneca Valley School District before arriving in Upper St. Clair.
“When I was originally recruited for the position, I didn’t quite know what was ahead,” Miller said. “They say that when one door closes, another opens, and I was so happy to land here in a district that puts kids first, that values education and expects high standards from all of the stakeholders. And I feel like over the last 16 years, we’ve certainly continued that tradition here at Streams school.”
She is appreciative of her experience as principal.
“For me, being an administrator was the perfect job, because I loved that intersection between working with students, working with teachers and working with families,” she said.
Joining in Tuesday’s festivities were Claire’s father, John Miller, a retired Moon Area School District teacher, and brother David, who traveled from Idaho for the occasion.