Mr. Berry bids adieu to SJPS
After 22 years working for St. Joseph Public Schools (SJPS), Mr. James “Jim” Berry, former SJHS Assistant Principal, left his employment within the school district for a new position. This new job title is County Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE). However, he will no longer be employed within Berrien County, but instead, the neighboring St. Joseph County, MI, located south of Kalamazoo, MI.
Mr. Berry began his time at SJHS soon after graduating from Western Michigan University (WMU). At a career fair as a WMU student, he met former SJHS principal, Mr. Tom Miller, who interviewed him soon after for a teaching position. Mrs. Lauri Berry, SJHS CTE and culinary teacher, was only dating Mr. Berry at the time, and also looking for work.
photo by leyla dumke
After his hiring in 2000, Mr. Berry began as a computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting teacher. And in 2010, he and Mr. Vic Vograp, former woodshop teacher, co-founded the first “Average Joes” Robotics Team at the high school. The following year, Mr. Berry transitioned to a guidance counselor position in the building. He also functioned as the CTE Director for SJ students during this time. Finally, in 2016, he became the Assistant Principal along with CTE Director many currently in the building know him as.
“I do miss teaching during those first couple years. That was a great time,” Mr. Berry reflected.
When asked what his favorite memory from his time in the building was, he had a hard time choosing just one.
“There are a few. Growing the CAD program to seven sections a day—which included zero hour… that’s a great memory, building that up, getting kids excited to do CAD…” he said. “It’s hard to narrow down to one. Helping students get into colleges they didn’t think they were going to get into when I was a counselor was pretty rewarding. Starting the robotics team was a great memory. [Overall,] helping students. Being a high school student and a teenager, you’ve got so many forces and dynamics… just being there to support students with whatever needs they have inside this building or outside this building…” he concluded.
However, Mr. Berry did say that he “will not miss having to break up fights.”
In his new job, Mr. Berry will be working with eight high schools, as well as a community college. He learned about the opportunity in February at the Michigan Career Education Conference.
“A colleague of mine said a county CTE job is becoming available. The guy’s retiring, and that’s how I was made aware of it,” he said. But as many have pointed out, Mr. Berry’s timing of departure before the end of the academic year, and even two days before spring break, came into question. Mr. Berry explained that the current SJ County CTE Director chose to retire at this time, meaning the position needed to be filled at that precise “unusual” time.
As for who will be the new SJHS Assistant Principal, Mrs. Amy Dirlam has been chosen. According to her LinkedIn, she has worked within SJPS since 1995, beginning at Upton Middle School as an English teacher.
“Mrs. Dirlam is a long-time friend of mine. She’s an ultimate professional. I think she has an open mind and an open heart,” Mr. Berry said. “She’s all about establishing relationships with kids, and that’s step one when you work with students.”
As a final goodbye, Mr. Berry spoke to students over the PA system, during sixth hour, on his last day in the building, March 29. Similar to the announcement, he offered a final word of advice to students during our interview.
“There are so many opportunities in this building… take advantage of these.”
This sentiment complements this quote once decaled on his office wall, from the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Coach Mr. Herb Brooks: “Great moments are born from great opportunities.”