KALEY’S FORESIGHT GAVE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPER VISION

Fred C. Kaley had a vision long before anyone else could see it.

The long-time distinguished educator within the Greencastle-Antrim School District conceived the idea for the popular hands-on learning center known as the Tayamentasachta Environmental Center. As an avid outdoorsman and early environmentalist, he conceived the idea for the Center and designed the plans for it. He presented his ideas to the Greencastle-Antrim School Board, which agreed to purchase the farm adjacent to the school property. It was established in 1966 and its name is a Native American word meaning "never ending waters or spring."

Moreover, he also explained the need for its farmland and its use for future expansion. It now houses the Elementary and Primary Schools. He also worked with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to establish a trout nursery at the Center. He served as the Director of Tayamentasachta until his death on March 5, 1977.

“I remember him as the first principal of the middle school, which I happen to be in the first eighth grade class in the middle school,” said C. Gregory Hoover, G-A School Superintendent. “Not that I had many trips to the office, but I knew he wasn't there much in the afternoons.  He was out at the Environmental Center.  Though he had many contributions to the district and the community, the Environmental Center is his lasting legacy.  He had a vision of what that piece of property could become and set out to put in place.  I'm sure there were people wondering what the district was doing and why they were spending the money on the ‘school farm,’ but it is now one of the treasures of the district and community.”

His vision didn’t start and stop with the Environmental Center. As an educator, he worked his way up the administrative ladder. He served as a health and physical education teacher, a sports coach, athletic director, assistant principal at the Junior-Senior High School and then as principal at the Middle School until his retirement in 1974. He also created the “Circ-O-Rama” – a high school indoor and outdoor circus production.

“I remember Mr. Kaley first as the athletic director when I was attending games as an elementary student,” recalled Hoover. “ I can still see him standing in front of fans ‘telling’ them to stop ‘booing.’ That was not allowed in his gym.”

Upon graduating from East Stroudsburg in 1938 with a BS in health and physical education, he began his teaching career in 1939, only to have it interrupted by World War II as he served as Staff Sergeant in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart. He was also awarded numerous other military medals prior to his Honorable Discharge in 1945. He then resumed his teaching career in Greencastle and earned his Masters Degree from Penn State in Education by taking summer courses from 1951 to 1953.

He was a member of the Greencastle Sportsmen’s Association, serving as Vice President, and was the Director of Summer Activities at Jerome R. King Playground for many years. He also served as Sunday School Teacher and as Sunday School Superintendent for many years at Grace United Church of Christ.

As a result of his ingenuity and commitment to his community, the school’s athletic complex is named after him as well as the annual 5K road race.

By Michael L. Straley