Loyalsock Valley’s Blaise ‘guilty of being a fun and good principal’
Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal Tyler Blaise “bunny hops” after being judged guilty by his students for being a fun principal during an assembly celebrating the school having exceeded its $12,000 goal for fund raising Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023. The whole school turned out for the assembly to “judge” the Blaise as a bit of fun for the students and teachers who raised the money that helps fund school trips and teacher’s supplies. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal Tyler Blaise “bunny hops” after being judged guilty by his students for being a fun principal during an assembly celebrating the school having exceeded its $12,000 goal for fund raising Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023. The whole school turned out for the assembly to “judge” the Blaise as a bit of fun for the students and teachers who raised the money that helps fund school trips and teacher’s supplies. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal “judge” their Principal Tyler Blaise guilty for being a fun principal during an assembly celebrating the school having exceeded its $12,000 goal for fund raising Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023. The whole school turned out for the assembly to “judge” the Blaise as a bit of fun for the students and teachers who raised the money that helps fund school trips and teacher’s supplies. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal Tyler Blaise “bunny hops” after being judged guilty by his students for being a fun principal during an assembly celebrating the school having exceeded its $12,000 goal for fund raising Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023. The whole school turned out for the assembly to “judge” the Blaise as a bit of fun for the students and teachers who raised the money that helps fund school trips and teacher’s supplies. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal Tyler Blaise “bunny hops” after being judged guilty by his students for being a fun principal during an assembly celebrating the school having exceeded its $12,000 goal for fund raising Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023. The whole school turned out for the assembly to “judge” the Blaise as a bit of fun for the students and teachers who raised the money that helps fund school trips and teacher’s supplies. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal “judge” their Principal Tyler Blaise guilty for being a fun principal during an assembly celebrating the school having exceeded its $12,000 goal for fund raising Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023. The whole school turned out for the assembly to “judge” the Blaise as a bit of fun for the students and teachers who raised the money that helps fund school trips and teacher’s supplies. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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Playing football with the kids at lunch, being supportive, giving students the benefit of the doubt, this was some of the evidence used to find Loyalsock Valley Elementary Principal Tyler Blaise "guilty of being a fun and good principal," by his students Wednesday morning at the school.
The students recently completed their walk-a-thon and surpassed their fundraising goal of $12,000, earning them a "no-principal day," at the school.
"The kids did amazing," said Kristie Boyer, PTO treasurer.
"They're really, really, excited," Boyer said of the students about the "no principal day."
The entire student body gathered in front of the school where a mock court was held to summon a surprised Blaise and inform him that the students met their goal and would be getting a school day without their principal.
But first he would have to be found guilty by the jury, his students.
Blaise was all smiles as he was found guilty by the over 200 students, and informed, since it was a kangaroo court, he would have to hop over to a waiting Montoursville Police Patrolman Mark Storms and his police cruiser.
Blaise is no stranger to challenges set forth to him if the school meets its walk-a-thon goal.
Last year saw Blaise camping out on the school's front lawn on a chilly night.
"He's a very involved principal, he's fantastic," Boyer said.
Last year's goal was $7,000 and the students raised over $9,000.
This year's ambitious goal was $12,000.
"This walk-a-thon funds all of our field trips, it helps support teachers, it gives awards to the kids that read over the summer; it does so much for the school, and it's just so important that we really wanted to celebrate this morning," Boyer said.
What does a school day without a principal look like?
That is still being planned, according to Boyer.
He will still be in the building, but won't be available, Boyer added.
Blaise may spend part of the day in a mock jail cell, or "Valley Jail," as the PTO is calling it, made out of a cardboard box.
"He is a good principal, he has a lot of nice things planned for us," said fourth grader Bransen Kohler, 9.
"He's fun," said fourth grader Noah Dougherty, 10, adding Blaise let the students dunk him in a dunk tank in a past challenge.
"I was super surprised today; it's really good. It's awesome just to see the kids reach their goal. It's all for the kids and whatever they need to enjoy school and make school fun," Blaise said.