Little moments of sweet success mark Sarah Greulich’s fifth year as principal

Need a little perspective?

Try sitting down with a group of second graders for lunch.

That’s what Harris Elementary School Principal Sarah Greulich does on days that get tough.

Age doesn’t matter for the longtime educator who oversees a school of kindergarten through third grade students. Greulich says on the days that are most overwhelming, instead of seeking a quiet space for solitude she heads to the cafeteria and has a friendly conversation.

“This is why I’m here. This is why I’m doing this,” she says. “Look how special they are. Look at their smiles.”

Greulich is in her fifth year as principal of Harris, but has taught or administered all grade levels across her more than 20 years in education. She has become known for maintaining a family-feel for elementary school in the center of the city, and for personally connecting with students and teachers alike.

Walking through the halls of her school, Greulich beamed at children explaining the “earthy smells of recess” as one group came in, and holding the door open as another group went out.

Being a principal means staying on your toes. It’s a mix of triage – comforting a little girl as she holds an ice bag to her bumped arm – and also coaching teachers. 

It also means maintaining close ties with parents, and working together to ensure each child’s needs are being met.  But Greulich says success at Harris over the years comes through teamwork, to ensure each child is safe, loved and taken care of.

“This staff is amazing,” she said. “Harris has that family feel; everyone always talks about it.”

Harris Elementary has become a home for Greulich’s family as well. A married mom of three boys, it was Harris that each of her children attended in their early years. It’s still a joy to drive with her youngest to school each day; he attends the adjoined Greenfield Intermediate School.

The Greulich family has made Greenfield home. Since they do not have extended family in the area, their friends and colleagues have become family. 

Greulich joined G-C schools back in 2007 and taught at Greenfield Middle School, which later became Greenfield Central Junior High School. She’s also taught or served in administration at Greenfield and Maxwell intermediate schools, and Eden Elementary.

Her first year at Harris as principal was 2019-2020. The first three quarters went smoothly, until the Covid-19 pandemic turned education upside down.

Greulich said it was a challenge to switch to virtual learning that final quarter. It was a completely different challenge to come back that fall to socially-distanced learning. 

“It was a time I look back with gratitude,” she said. “It was hard; I don’t ever want to go through it again. But now I’m reminded: I can do hard things, and it matters and it has value.”

The principal team at G-C schools has been amazing over the years, and Greulich has many mentors in the district for guidance, friendship and support. The G-C district has helped her grow professionally.

Greulich says she hit the jackpot when she landed at Harris Elementary as principal.

“Harris has become a part of my identity for this season of life,” she said. “The staff at Harris has loved my own children. It is my neighborhood elementary school, and it is part of who  I am now.”

Greulich has come to realize that she needs time to simply connect with teachers, too, on a personal level. Like taking a break to have lunch and chat with children, she’ll also sometimes just sit in the teacher’s lounge and talk about family life, vacations, pets– anything.

That friendly vibe with teachers rang true at the end of last school year, when she got a text asking permission to dress up in silly costumes for the final day of school. Teachers showed off their inflated alien, unicorn and dinosaur costumes, and children hooted in glee. 

Large photos of the special memory adorn the entrance hall of Harris today.

“We just needed to smile and laugh and it was beautiful,” Greulich said. “It was one of the best ‘yeses’ I’ve ever said. It was just so much fun– you can see the joy on their faces.”

Greenfield-Central Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin said Greulich is the epitome of the phrase “servant leader.”  It was a unanimous decision to place her in the leadership role at Harris after seeing her grow as assistant administrator at the intermediate schools. 

“Sarah was instrumental in Harris Elementary being named a National Blue Ribbon School, and she continues to find ways to better support her students, staff and families,” he said. “I appreciate Sarah’s passion to make G-C the very best place it can be. Her commitment goes beyond our schools, because she truly wants our larger community to be a great place to live, work and play.”

For the 2024-2025 school year, Greulich plans to continue to foster great community partnerships. She also hopes to help families with healthy living and school habits, to create strong foundations for success. 

Greulich loves this age range of students. She never lacks for a hug or a kind word. K-3 students love to play, explore their world, and are eager to please.

“They have a zest and energy for life that I really appreciate.”

Sometimes the best moments are the tiny moments. One boy, for example, recently moved to Greenfield and always reaches out for her hand to hold. It melts her heart.

“There’s never a clear answer why a kid chooses you, but this little fella just kinda chose me,” she said. “Sometimes we don’t even talk; it’s just that safety for each other. But it’s very special and very sweet. I love when I am walking in the hallway and a student quietly and gently reaches out to grab my hand as they walk.  The simple gesture lets me know that things are going as they should.  That child knows that they are safe and loved. That is success.”

By Maribeth Vaughn