People

Principal leads students, staff, to serve

Life lessons are tops in the curriculum he teaches students and staff

Barry Flicker is the kind of guy who doesn’t think twice about dying his hair purple to motivate his students. The kind of guy who, when floodwaters rise in a student’s home, rolls up his pant legs, and wades in to rescue belongings. The kind of guy who dips into his own pocket when kids don’t have money for lunch or a school field trip.

Principal Barry Flicker honors a promise. His “Dr. Flicker’s Purple Hair Dare” challenged student’s to each raise US$1 for Relay for Life. The students surpassed the goal, and Flicker followed through with his clown-like coiffure.

"Dr. Flicker" dons a Dr. Seuss topper to teach.

The North Coventry Elementary School principal’s reputation for going far above his job description to help his students and their families in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, earned him recognition as a 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Teacher All-Star. It also has earned him a place in the community’s collective heart as a mentor and service-minded leader.

“When I was in the army—drafted to serve in the Vietnam War in Korea—I realized I was always a leader,” says Barry, who is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Pottstown. “I realized I had the traits of a leader, and people responded to me. I always wanted to work with people, and I love seeing people grow—especially children.”

So, after his honorable discharge from military service, Barry went back to school to get his teaching degree, his master’s degree, and eventually his doctorate. He worked as a high school social studies teacher before becoming North Coventry’s principal. Throughout his career he’s instilled in his students, his staff, and others the importance of kindness and service.

“The most important thing I hope students learn is to always choose being kind over being right,” Barry says. “And I hope I’ve taught the staff that we all need to care for each other.”

Lessons he lives as an example. This past year when floodwaters began rising in the community, a parent called Barry asking for help. He immediately rolled up his pant legs, went to the family, and began tying down and saving belongings. He also opened the school and invited families use it to store their refrigerators, freezers, clothes, scrapbooks, and anything else they needed to keep from floodwaters.

For Barry, the decision to act is simple: “We help each other. If one’s in need, we’re all in need.”

“Barry brings out the best in people,” North Coventry maintenance director Randy Snyder told The Mercury newspaper. “I remember he approached people who were gawking (at the floods) and Barry went right up to them, shook their hands, introduced himself, and recruited them to help.”

Though Barry announced his retirement this past year, he’s already “paid forward” his legacy of kindness and service: During his career in education he started four Key Clubs, two Builders Clubs, and, most recently four K-Kids clubs.

“He has made us so service-minded,” teacher Elaine Kindl told The Mercury. “So we look outside of ourselves to see what we can do to help other people.”