by: Emma Helmick 

After more than 40 years of being involved with GS, High School Principal Mr. David Zilli is set to retire December 31st, 2023. 

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Mr. Zilli stands in the center of students on his final day working in the building.

Photo courtesy of: Mr. Adam Jones

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After graduating from GS in 1982, Mr. Zilli came back to the school to work and then worked his way up the ladder until now. 

“I think right now I know it’s going to create an incredible void for me,” Zilli said. “I’m pretty much ignoring the idea of me retiring. My intent is to continue to come to work every day until I’m done and then leave, but not really plan to leave by thinking about it.” 

In his time spent at GS, Zilli took on several different roles. He came back in 1995 to teach English. In 2001, he became the Dean of Students and an Athletic Director. From 2004-2008 he was the Assistant Principal and has been the Principal since then. 

“I’m really not celebrating the end of something; I’m celebrating the journey and the moments that took place along that journey,” he said. “Each of the stops along my journey have been really rewarding and I feel as if I have taken more away from this experience than I have given to others.” 

He has dedicated 42 years of his life to GS, 15 of those years were spent as the Principal, but it is now time for something new. 

Assistant Principal Mr. Adam Jones will be in the position when the time comes. He was the Principal of the Middle School before transferring over to the High School. 

“Mr. Jones ran his own building, and I had the opportunity to work with him,” Zilli said. “I’ve seen him work alongside me in different capacities, whether it was Principal, Dean of Students, Co-Principals; I know that he has the ability to lead the faculty and focus on what we believe at GS.” 

Jones became the Co-Principal last year, but it was not his first time working in the building. He worked in the High School from 2007 to 2014. 

“I’m happy for him, he deserves it,” Jones said. “Selfishly, I wish he wasn’t leaving because our working relationship is really strong and we go off each other’s strengths and trust each other. It’s an amount of mixed emotions.” 

Mr. Jones has had many opportunities to learn how Mr. Zilli ran the building from working together and plans to keep up the “great traditions” at GS. 

“You’re not going to find anybody bending over as backwards for this district as much as he did,” Jones said. “I’m happy for him, but I’m going to miss him a lot and I think everybody is.” 

This will be the first time since 1995 that he will not be directly involved with the school district, but he plans to find ways to stay active in the GS community. 

“Stepping back completely and turning over the rein completely is something I’ve never done,” Zilli said. “I don’t know what that’s going to feel like, but I feel better knowing there are going to be good people taking over.” 

Mr. Jones will now be leading the school alongside Athletic Director Mr. Frank Sundry as the new Assistant Principal. 

“One thing I will miss is hearing every day, ‘it’s a great day to be a Golden Lion,’” junior Greta Hagofsky said. “As cheesy as it is, I think it truly did make me have a better outlook on my day. It also made me feel proud to be part of such an amazing school.” 

Teachers and students said their goodbyes to Mr. Zilli and began adjusting to the change. 

“It’s been a blessing to work at GS,” Zilli said. “The people who were my teachers and coaches were the ones who hired me back here and now I’m passing on the baton to the next generation and I know that we are going to be in good hands. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth it.”