‘Duct Tape Our Principal’ event held at Parks Elem.
Was school’s first such fundraiser for cancer research, relay team
J.C. Parks Elementary School held its first-ever Duct Tape Our Principal Fundraiser on June 13 in Indian Head to raise money for Relay For Life, a nationwide fundraising initiative of the American Cancer Society that benefits cancer research.
“It was put together pretty quick. We just collected money and the kids really came together,” said Deanna Gomez, an attendance secretary at the school. “We have great parents and they support us no matter what, big or small. We’ve had parents bring in a dollar and one student bring in $195. Every penny counts.”
More than 700 kids and staff gathered outside near the playground area to witness principal Gregory Miller get taped to a garage door as he stood on two chairs. Students who donated to the fundraiser received a ticket and took turns walking toward Miller with a long piece of tape, much to the delight of their peers.
“I [was] very nervous about being duct taped in front of the kids. But it’s all for the American Cancer Society, and it’s a great end-of-the-year activity,” Miller said. “The kids [were] very excited about it. We’ve received some nice donations from parents and community members. I always like to do things as a family and as a community, so this [was] just another example where I could do that and provide that type of forum.”
One of the lucky students was fourth grader Rodney Waters, whose mother wrote a $175 check and donated another $20 in cash on Wednesday morning. Waters said he was excited to participate and glad that Miller could make humor out of a serious issue.
“My great-grandma had died from cancer before I was born,” Waters said. “So, [this fundraising event] really touches me, my mom and my grandpa’s heart. It makes me feel good because I get to have a good laugh at [Mr. Miller] being taped up.”
“It is special,” said Miller, a resident of Huntingtown in Calvert County. “My father-in-law had stomach cancer last summer and [his recovery is] going very well. My wife is a breast cancer survivor, and it will be nine years this July. She’s still doing great. So, it’s certainly something that’s always been important to me personally as well as with the children.”
Rese Cole, a resident of Clinton, who will be retiring this year after 30 years of counseling students at J.C. Parks Elementary, is also a cancer survivor. Cole said she understands firsthand the importance of raising cancer awareness and celebrating the lives of all those who fought against the disease.
“I was diagnosed about 12 or 13 years ago and am just wonderfully blessed to still be here,” she said. “[This fundraiser is] such an important thing because cancer is just taking people down one by one. It doesn’t matter their race, age or any of that. I’ve had many experiences with students, at this school, who had cancer and they have survived it. It’s an amazing thing.”
“It’s not a celebration just for the adults or a coworker, but actually several students in this school as well,” Cole added. “We, as a team, do a great job of doing that.”
Waters’s teacher, Kelsey Graham, helped raised the most money and got a chance to surprise Miller with a pie to his face at the end of the event.
“We’re always trying to do something special for the American Cancer Society,” Miller said. “When I was a principal at T.C. Martin Elementary, I always did an annual walkathon. Whatever school that I’m at, I try to do something unique. I might do it next year or we may have our vice principal do it next year, and even some teachers. But I’m glad that we did this [duct tape fundraiser] for the first time here.”