SPEND A few minutes with former educator and school superintendent Stan Golden, and you’ll leave with an impression of his heart for the students and community he served. A sense of humor and dedication flows through the conversation like a creek after a gentle summer rain.
“When I was in the first grade at Kelso Elementary School, I hated school,” he recalled, sharing how he ran away from school one day but returned when he recognized that he’d left his book satchel behind — one made for him by his grandmother. “The teacher noticed I was missing and wouldn’t let me leave again. She blocked the door when I tried.”
It’s funny how the little boy who hated school became the man who spent his life supporting countless students and the educators who poured into them.
He speaks of the reality of shaping students in any generation, past or present.
“Schools are a reflection on society and everything that goes on in society we’ve got in our schools, whether we want to admit it or not. We had to deal with those things,” Golden pointed out.
When the high schools merged, he first worked with them as a vocational agriculture teacher at Flintville High School and Lincoln County High School (LCHS). After years as an instructor in the vocational program, he accepted a position as the assistant principal and vocational director in charge of boys’ discipline at LCHS.
“Everybody thinks that’s a terrible job, but I enjoyed it about as much as anything I did,” Golden said. “I dealt with a lot of discipline, and I think I got to help a lot of kids, just counseling them when they were in trouble for something.”
Throughout his career, Golden’s commitment to guiding students never wavered.
“I’ve sat in my office and begged kids not to quit school,” he said. Years later, the impact of those conversations became clear. “I’ve had some of them come up to me later saying, ‘I wish I’d have listened to you.'” Golden paused, his voice softening. “And, you know, that makes it all worthwhile.”
In 1992, Golden ran for school superintendent, building on his experience as an educator and administrator. Serving two elected terms and appointments from 1996-99, he often jokes that he was the last elected and the first superintendent appointed to the office.
As superintendent, Golden empowered his staff through trust and clear boundaries. He gave supervisors a metaphorical “box” of responsibilities, encouraging them to handle issues independently while keeping him informed of controversial matters. His leadership style emphasized open communication, delegation, and mutual respect among his administrative team.
Eighteen years into retirement, Golden’s impact on Lincoln County education endures, much like the lasting effects of the gentle summer rain. His efforts to support and inspire students and staff alike have seeped deep into the community’s foundation. Today, others continue this work, creating a cycle of life in public education that nurtures future generations. GN
