Ann Arbor's Bach Elementary School principal retiring after 37 years with district

Posted on Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.

Ann Arbor's Bach Elementary School principal retiring after 37 years with district

By Danielle Arndt

Bach Elementary School Principal Shelley Bruder has announced her retirement from the Ann Arbor Public Schools after spending 37 years with the district.

Shelley Bruder

A2schools.org

The longtime educator began her career in the district as a teacher in 1976, officials said. She later served as principal of Northside Elementary School for four years, followed by 11 years at Mitchell Elementary. She came to Bach Elementary in 2004, officials said.

"Shelley has worked tirelessly for students in the Ann Arbor district for 37 years," Communications Director Liz Margolis said in a statement. "Both in the classroom and as a building principal, she has devoted her career to ensuring all students achieve at their highest level. Her work at Bach, leading the district's first ESL (English as a second language) magnet school that serves the west side of Ann Arbor was truly groundbreaking.

"Under Shelley's leadership the Bach ESL magnet provides a welcome learning environment for international students. Bach school and the entire AAPS community will miss Shelley's leadership and her compassion and care for her students."

Bach Elementary School, located at 600 W. Jefferson Rd. in Ann Arbor.

AnnArbor.com file photo

Bruder said in her biography on the Bach Elementary website that being an educator is all she ever imagined it would be. "Working with such a well-educated and dedicated staff to assist students learn all they can is a very rewarding job," she wrote.

Bruder is the second elementary school principal to announce her retirement at the end of this school year. Virginia Bell at Burns Park Elementary School also is retiring. Bell has been with the district for 20 years. She began her career as a teacher and was named Huron High School assistant principal in 2002. Bell has been at Burns Park for the past two years.

Margolis said in late April, the district posted a generic elementary school principal opening anticipating reassignments or additional principal retirements prior to the start of the 2013-14 academic year. So far, the district will need to fill leadership roles at Bach, Burns Park and Pattengill elementaries, as well as Skyline High School.

Pattengill Elementary Principal Che Carter was named the new Clague Middle School principal earlier this week.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.

Comments

Mimi

Sun, Jun 9, 2013 : 1:45 a.m.

Sorry to hear that Ms. Bruder is leaving Bach. I'm sure she'll be missed! She was a great principal, always very involved with the kids & families! Sorry to see her go. Enjoy your retirement!

Peregrine

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 3:33 p.m.

Bach Elementary has benefited greatly from Shelley Bruder. She interacts with the students beautifully, and it seems they appreciate her and know she cares about them. She's a great example of how a hands-on, experienced administrator can help set the tone for a small community. She will be missed.

mady

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.

I have been working at Bach a relatively short time,(October 2012) but I've seen firsthand what a wonderful influence Mrs. Bruder has been. This lady obviously loves what she does and it shows! Shelley, it has been an inspiration to work with you and you will be missed! Enjoy your retirement! Au Revoir, Madeleine Baier

A2Meesh

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.

Mrs. Bruder will be greatly missed. She has been a wonderful principal and friend to her students. She cares about the school, her staff and the community. We are so lucky to have had her at Bach! Thank you, Principal Bruder for all that you have done. Enjoy your retirement but make sure to come back and visit every now and then, ok? :) Cheers!

foobar417

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 10:03 a.m.

Ms. Bruder has been a fantastic principal, greatly benefiting the children of Bach school.

Matt Cooper

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 3:02 a.m.

Nice! An article announcing the retirement of an AAPS principle and wishing her well in her retirement and future endeavours, and of 8 total posts thus far only 2 even mention Ms. Bruder or Ms. Bell. Stay classy a2.com commenters!! Ms. Bruder and Ms. Bell, thank you both for your many years of dedicated service to the students of Ann Arbor Public Schools!

mady

Sat, Jun 8, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.

I agree Matt, amazing how the trolls use just about any excuse to spout their bilge! disgusting!!

TryingToBeObjective

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 11:09 a.m.

Unfortunately those who are leaving is old news quickly. There is too much else going on to be concerned about, and when folks are looking for news in other areas, they take what they can get.

A2comments

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 10:41 a.m.

Principal...

JRW

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 12:51 a.m.

How about an update on the principals union budget/concessions talks? Are they giving up any salary % for 2013-2014?

Danielle Arndt

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 2:48 a.m.

Nothing new to report yet. This was the latest (published Monday) in case you missed it: http://www.annarbor.com/news/education/mums-the-word-ann-arbor-principals-union-yet-to-negotiate-new-contract-pay-cut/.

DonBee

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 12:14 a.m.

I wish Ms. Bruder a wonderful retirement. She is a wonderful person and will be missed.

lynel

Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:46 p.m.

I would like to thank Shelley Bruder and Virginia Bell for their combined 57 years of service to the district.

Bulldog

Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:52 p.m.

Any update on the Carpenter situation? Make a decision on the leave. How long does it take to figure out the situation? Is this person still on paid leave?

Chester Drawers

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:39 a.m.

Don't hold your breath waiting for an update from the district, Danielle. Some day you will find out (purely by happenstance) that this former principal has been made the Assistant Superintendent for Paper Clip Procurement, a job he will hold until retirement.

Danielle Arndt

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 2:44 a.m.

Bulldog, Charles Davis Jr. is still on paid administrative leave and the investigation is ongoing, according to school officials. I am following that situation closely, however, and as soon as anything changes will update readers.

Wake Up A2

Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 10:01 p.m.

Principal sharing means not have to spend money you dont have.

SuperiorMother

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.

I'm wondering the same thing, @DonBee. I 100% understand the challenges of providing transportation (both of my school-age kids are "schools of choice" students in A2, so I'm responsible for all of their transportation) but I'm wondering what their alternatives are.

TryingToBeObjective

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 11:06 a.m.

@DonBee, just curious, what do these 29 kids plan to do? Not attend school, move?

DonBee

Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 12:14 a.m.

My count of families I know, J.A. Pieper, is that 29 students close to my location will not return next fall, since their families will have to provide transportation, it may be more as the families find schools for their younger students too. The end of high school busing is the talk of evening walks and driveway conversations in the townships. I would not be surprised to see AAPS down 300-500 or more students in the fall because of it, originally I though that at most it would be 30 or 40.

J. A. Pieper

Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 11:18 p.m.

AAPS won't wake up to this - it would so hurt their reputation to have to share principals between buildings! Also, want to make any predictions on how many of the 233 of the pink slipped teachers will be recalled? I know that there are quite a few students leaving the district from my building, and much of it has to do with the lack of discipline in the schools today. To be fiscally responsible, AAPS should not be recalling all the teachers, especially at the elementary level, until they find out for sure how many students are showing up in September!