ROWE — After 20 years working in education and 14 years at the helm of Rowe Elementary School, Principal Bill Knittle is retiring.

Knittle, 64, will be stepping down from his role in two weeks, after the school year wraps up. He said he has loved his time in Rowe, but he is ready to retire.

“It’s the only principal job I ever had and it’s the only one I ever wanted,” he said. “I’ll miss the kids and the staff. This is the best job I’ve ever had.”

Before he became principal in 2011, Knittle taught at schools across the region, including in Turners Falls, Huntington and Chester. Prior to that, he worked as the advertising manager for the Berkshire Eagle and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

“I think I had always wanted to be a teacher, and in 2004 my son was graduating from high school and I thought, ‘If I don’t do something about it now, I’ll never do it,’” Knittle recounted. “So I quit my job, sold my house and went back to UMass to get a master’s in education and a teaching license.”

Knittle said some of the highlights of his career in Rowe were the challenging times, and seeing how the students and staff worked together to overcome them.

For example, shortly after Knittle took on the role of principal, the school burned down, leaving the students with no place to learn and the staff with no place to work. It also left the town with the question of whether to rebuild or send its students to another district. Knittle said he was amazed by the support from residents who voted to build a new school, and that serving on the building committee was “an incredible experience,” allowing him to map out “every inch of the school.”

Knittle added that he was impressed by the resilience of the staff during that time. One of the school’s longtime teachers had told him she didn’t need anything special; she just wanted to teach.

“We were talking about what our plans were and how we were going to move forward, and she said, ‘Just get us pencils and paper and we’ll teach them,’” he reminisced. “That, to me, embodied what this school was all about. No matter what, we’re going to push through and do it.”

He was likewise blown away by the staff’s commitment to education during the pandemic. Rowe Elementary was one of just a few schools that fully returned to in-person learning in the fall of 2020. While most schools remained remote or hybrid, Rowe teachers taught lessons in socially distant classrooms outdoors.

“This gritty group accomplished things we would not think possible,” Knittle said.

Superintendent John Franzoni added that Rowe Elementary’s teachers and staff have flourished under Knittle’s leadership.

“I want to commend Bill for his 14 years. His dedication to the school has been unmatched,” Franzoni said. “We’re sad to see him go, but we’re happy for him and it’s been great working with him.”

Replacing Knittle as principal will be Jon Friedman, adjustment counselor for North Berkshire School Union. Knittle said that as the adjustment counselor, Friedman has spent one day a week at Rowe Elementary, so he is familiar with the students, staff and how the school operates.

“We’re happy to have been able to hire from within,” Franzoni said. “Bill’s been here for 14 years and he’s done a great job, and we think Jon will continue this great work and bring his own leadership as well.”

Franzoni said the school union had searched for a new principal for two months and believes Friedman is the best candidate for the job. He is familiar with the school, and before becoming the adjustment counselor, Friedman worked as an assistant principal in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District.

Knittle said he is happy to hand over the reins to Friedman.

“He’s just great. I cannot imagine a better person to take over,” Knittle said. “He’s a fantastic guy and he knows the school.”

While Friedman settles into his new role as principal, Knittle plans to spend his retirement catching up on reading, learning to play the mandolin and continuing his work training teachers at the Center for Responsive Schools in Turners Falls. He also plans to volunteer with the Two Town News, a monthly newsletter covering the towns of Shelburne and Buckland.

“I always figured at some point I’d get back in the newspaper game,” Knittle said.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.