Thank you Mr. Spradlin: HDMS honors principal ahead of deployment

         The halls of Hampton-Dumont Middle School were quiet, as staff tiptoed about, whispering to each other updates on time. One by one, members of the Hampton community waited to be snuck in through side doors of the middle school, where they silently made their way to the gymnasium.
        Class after class walked down to the gymnasium, packed from fourth, through eighth graders, as well as select high and elementary schoolers, to create standing room only space for anyone who was to come and see.
        The only person missing was Principal Tony Spradlin.
        His name dotted the cafeteria walls on posters of American flags, in the colors of red, white and blue, but he was no where to be found. The man that spent his days at the school, walking up and down the halls, pulling students aside to talk about their days and share laughs and smiles with, didn’t know he had to even be there.
        And that’s when he walked in to a cheering crowd, like an athlete coming out of the tunnel on to the court. With a look of confusion, Spradlin took in the standing ovation, maintaining his composure in front of a district chanting his name. 
     Read the full article in the March 1 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.