Sean McGarvey spent one year away from Switzerland County and that’s enough. He’s glad to be back home.
On Monday, he was named principal at Switzerland County Middle School, replacing John Druba who retired.
Sean McGarvey taught in the Switzerland County School Corporation for 13 years until last year when he accepted the position of assistant principal and athletic director at Attica Senior-Junior High School in west central Indiana.
“Professionally it was a great year, but personally it was very hard on my family,” he said.
That’s because his wife, Lesa, and son, Aidan, were still living in Vevay, where she continued to teach at Jefferson-Craig Elementary School. Sean McGarvey lived in an apartment during the week in Attica then made the three-hour trip to Vevay on weekends.
During his years in the Switzerland County School Corporation, Sean McGarvey taught seventh grade social studies while also serving stints as varsity boys track coach and freshman boys basketball coach.
The position at Attica gave Sean McGarvey the opportunity to advance his career and provide him the experience that created the opportunity of being named the middle school principal. “Last year at Attica prepared me for a lot of things,” he said, and he’s excited about having the chance to work with the people at Switzerland County Middle School.
“They have a great staff at the middle school, and I just want to keep everything going in the right direction,” Sean McGarvey said.
He has high praise for John Druba. “I have big shoes to fill. Mr. Druba did a great job for many years. He was assistant principal and principal for all 13 years I was there. I saw how he operated, and he did a great job. I just want to keep it going,” Sean McGarvey said.
John Druba, who attended Monday’s school board meeting, wished the best to Sean McGarvey. “I offer my congratulations. Call me whenever you need me,” John Druba said.
Sean McGarvey is thrilled with the opportunity to work with the faculty at Switzerland County Middle School. “It’s a great staff to work with and they’ve made Switzerland County Middle School a great place. I’m looking to the future,” he said.
But the best part for Sean McGarvey is again living and working fulltime in Switzerland County. He’s a native of Clarksville, Indiana, but except for the last year, he’s lived in Switzerland County since graduating from Indiana University in 1999. Switzerland County is home for Sean McGarvey. “I’m glad to be back home,” he said.