To look at David Prescott’s office, you wouldn’t know Tuesday was his final day as superintendent.

Folded-up boxes were stored behind his desk, and one box sat by his still-half-full bookshelf with the frames of photographs hanging over the top of the box.

It only took five boxes to move out of the office, said Prescott as he transferred documents from his desk computer onto two flash drives.

Even though it was his last day, Prescott was busy working on reports about federal stimulus money and district incidents. Prescott said he jokes he’s getting out at the right time, because he doesn’t need to learn all the new ins and outs for receiving stimulus money.

However, Prescott said it is disappointing to leave when the teacher’s contract is unresolved, largely because of the 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities.

Prescott became interim superintendent in December of 1995 after the previous superintendent had left abruptly, and the community was in turmoil.

Prescott’s administrative assistant Alice Schulte said she has mixed emotions to see Prescott retire, as she is happy for him, but sad to see him go.

“I think he’s been a real asset to the district,” Schulte said.

Schulte described Prescott as a person who is always approachable on any topic.

“He’s just a common, ordinary person in a leadership role,” Schulte said.

Michael Funk will take over as superintendent on Wednesday, and Schulte said she’s looking forward to working with him. She said Funk seems to have that same approachability Prescott possesses.

Prescott said he’s looking forward to having no duties to attend to, because he said a superintendent’s role can be a 365-day-a-year position, where he’s often needed to check on things when on vacation.

“I’m looking forward to a few weeks — maybe a month or two — of just totally relaxing and thinking about the future. Thinking about what we’ve accomplished,” Prescott said.

The first event on Prescott’s retirement schedule is the wedding of his son, Ben, on July 4 on the shores of Lake Superior. After that Prescott will have a routine surgery later in July.

Prescott said he and his wife, Paula, plan to spend time at a lake house they own near Walker.

One thing Prescott said he and Paula have always talked about doing is visiting Vermont in the fall when the leaves change, something they haven’t been able to do because it’s when the school year starts.  

Prescott, who will be 63 in September, said he’s talked to people about roles as a consultant, an interim superintendent and a teacher at a university, which are common roles for retired superintendents. But Prescott said he’s not sure those roles would fit him, and he said he needs some time for reflection away from superintendent responsibilities.

“I’m leaving my position, but my calling has always been to work with kids. My job is ending, but my calling isn’t,” Prescott said. “So I’ll be working with kids — maybe in Albert Lea, maybe not, maybe someplace else.”

Prescott said he’ll miss working with the people at the district offices at Brookside Education Center, and he also said he’ll miss interacting with students, even though he didn’t have as much time for that as an administrator.

As he’s neared his retirement, Prescott said he’s had a number of events like lunches and parties, but he’s also received cards from former students and staff.

“You don’t know the impact you make on others immediately. Sometimes it happens years later that you find out that you did something to help them with their career path, their education in some way. You kind of get a thank you out of the blue, and it’s kind of a serendipity,” Prescott said.

Prescott said he’s not sure where he will be in the future, but he said Albert Lea has been good to him and his family.

“Albert Lea has been really good for me and for my family,” Prescott said. “My kids graduated here. My wife was a teacher here. The community and the staff and the kids, it’s been a good thing for me, and I hope for them as well.”