
Coupeville High School Principal Duane Baumann is exiting the job at the end of the school year. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The man walks away.
Coupeville High School Principal Duane Baumann is leaving his job at the end of the current school year.
The move will put a cap on a 10-year run as an administrator in Coupeville, during which time he worked, at various points, as a Principal, Assistant Principal, and Athletic Director.
Baumann has been CHS Principal since 2016.
During my time working with him — otherwise known as harassing him with emails or peppering him with constant questions, while he flashed a quiet smile and waited for me to wind down — I found him to be a rock-solid guy.
Baumann was deeply committed to his job, his students, and his co-workers, and he has made our schools and community better for his presence.
He and wife Barbi, and their five children, will be missed, but we wish them all the best.
Saturday night he released the following statement:
Yes, I will be retiring from principaling at the end of this school year.
I plan on spending more time with my family. We are most likely moving to Port Orchard to be around extended family.
I do not have a new job yet; I am looking at working at the university level, maybe teaching at a school again (I was a pretty good math teacher back in the day) or maybe a new adventure altogether.
Coupeville has been tremendous for me and my family. I have never seen a community so wonderful as Coupeville.
I thought I would share a few (there are many) of my most memorable sports moments I have seen here at Coupeville.
Sean Toomey-Stout scoring a touchdown with the deer leading the way was definitely memorable.
I love watching the boys and girls relay teams in track. They are exciting to watch.
The football game when the fog rolled in and nobody could see anything was hilarious.
Randy King was trying to announce and pretty much could not see anything that was happening.
The top moment though had to be in 2011 when our boys basketball team beat South Whidbey at South Whidbey with the running three-pointer from Ian Smith at the end of the game.
I think there is still a YouTube video out there with it.
There are a ton of moments from band, drama, activities, assemblies, etc., that I have not touched on.
Coupeville, thank you for all the memories.
PS — The video still lives. Bathe in the sweet, sweet tears of South Whidbey:
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