Published: July 11, 2008 10:06 am      

Long-time Mercer educator retires

PRINCETON — After 32 years working in education in Mercer County, Dr. Stephen Akers decided it was time to retire. He officially retired from his position as principal of Princeton Senior High School on June 30.

Akers, a native of Lashmeet, worked in a variety of schools over the years, most recently his three-year stint at PSHS. He also served as principal of Bluefield Middle School for five years, principal of Montcalm Elementary School and was principal of Oakvale High School during its last two years of existence.

Akers worked in personnel for the county for around eight years. He left that position when his wife, Dr. Deborah Akers, became superintendent of the county. With his work ethic, he’s not going to sit around at home during his retirement. “I’ll probably work somewhere, but I’m not sure where or what. I hope to fish and hunt more. The schedule at Princeton could be confining,” he said.

Akers said working in education for more than 30 years has helped him learn a lot from both colleagues and students. “I’ve worked with fabulous people.” He said some changes due to regulation have changed how decisions are made.

“Where once it was easy because you used common sense, now we have regulations from other agencies. I enjoyed every day, though. I was never in a location that I didn’t enjoy.”

He said he’ll miss working with teachers, the community and, of course, the students. “I’ll miss the conversations I had with the students. We had some groups that had nicknames, - the Carhart guys. I enjoyed talking to them.”

Akers said over the years some things he’s noticed changing haven’t been for the better. “There are some parents, not all, who think that life should be easy for their child. They think homework is an imposition. With the global economy, we face hard times unless we strengthen our work ethic. Lots of students in Mercer County have that work ethic,” he said.

Parents sometimes think a teacher has an ax to grind with a student. Akers said that’s usually not the case. “It’s hard for parents to believe their children might have done something wrong. But there’s no reason for a teacher to make up that a child did something. Teachers have the same interest as the parents. They want to move the child in the right direction,” he said.

He said parents need to prepare their children for the future. “My father said that education is the key to a better life. I come from a family of coal miners and did that work for a year myself,” Akers said. The possibility of mines closing and strikes helped lead him into the world of education. He spent two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in the U.S. and in Germany.

“I never planned my life out,” he said. “I’ve been blessed. Both of my parents are still alive, as well as my father-in-law and mother-in-law. Challenges lie ahead for public education, Akers said.

“The greatest challenge will be selling the idea that we’re not going to remain in the position this country has been in unless we work harder and make a strong commitment to learning as much as we can. We sometimes take for granted that we’re on the top of the heap, and we don’t make changes until something has gone further than it should,” he said.

He said Mercer County and many of its students have done well. “We’re fortunate that students in this county have made a real difference in the world. I would hope that the students now coming through the schools would know that it’s about more than just ‘me’ and look to make a difference and help others in the community we live in.”

Akers said he’s most appreciative of the people he’s worked with in his 32 years in education. “I never worked with anyone that I didn’t learn something from.”

— Contact Mark Blevins at

mblevins@ptonline.net.