This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Cornwells Loses 'The Tie Man'

Parkton retires after 35 years with district.

This is another in a series of stories on employees retiring from the Bensalem School District after being hired in the 1970s.

Cornwells Elementary School is losing The Tie Man.

More importantly, the . is losing a teacher with 35 years of varied district experience.

Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bill Parkton, one of about 40 teachers leaving the district this year, began as an adaptive physical education teacher for Bensalem in 1977 after three years at a private school in Northeast Philly. Since then, he has taught special education students at the elementary and middle school levels and third grade at Struble Elementary before settling in as a fourth-grade teacher at Cornwells in 2005.

“The thing I'm most noted for is being The Tie Man,” he said. I wear a tie virtually every day. This year I retired my ties and hung them on a rectangular wire in my room.

Find out what's happening in Bensalemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I had 96 of them as of three weeks ago and then I ran out,” he added last week as the school year was running out.

And not just any ties. For example, he had enough Christmas-themed ties to begin wearing them Dec. 1 each year. There are some with penguins – in homage to his “Parkton Penguins” students – along with Peanuts characters, SpongeBob SquarePants and Phillies logos.

“The kids say 'Are you still wearing those crazy ties?'” he said.

Parkton, who also coached track at Bensalem High for a few years in the 80s, said he'll miss his colleagues but it is time for a new chapter in his life.

“My wife retired two years ago from the Philadelphia School District and I just turned 60 in May,” he explained. “I've enjoyed teaching and I had a great year this year. It's just time to move on and do something different.

“You get a lot out of teaching but it takes a lot too,” he added. “It's time for younger people to come in and take over.”

And those new teachers coming in, says Parkton, are “highly trained.”

“I've had several student teachers and it's been fun to work with them, fun to guide them and fun to learn from them,” he said.

Parkton, of Upper Moreland, says he plans to unwind for about six months. After that, he and his wife will be traveling to Hawaii and Australia. He's also be playing golf and tennis a lot more.

“And if I miss teaching enough, I'll come back and help,” he said.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?