Alphabetical Listing by First Name (Click on one for a brief description)
* Throughout The Diary, student and teacher names (and in some cases gender) have been changed when confidentiality warrants it.

Alan	Bill	Branford*	Charlie
Craig	Dick	Dr. DeFlaminis	Fergy
Gary	Ginny	Harry*	Jack
Jannie*	Jeanine	Keith	Larry
Meisha	Muriel	Rachael*	Rita
Rose	Sam*	Stephanie	Tyrone
			Radnor Middle School 131 S. Wayne Ave. Wayne, PA 19312

Keith Dodd: The Diary's author, Keith is principal of Radnor Middle School. During the time of the diary, he is in his fifth and sixth year as principal at RMS, his 15th and 16th as a principal. (For more on Keith, check his Personal Page.) (Click Here for a Sketch of Keith and His Family)

Bill Laffey: Assistant principal of Radnor Middle School. A South Chicago native, Bill calls Northwestern his alma mater. Before becoming assistant principal, Bill taught English in the Radnor schools and served a stint as Director of Curriculum. After Keith resigned the summer of 1997, Bill took over as principal of RMS and continues in that position.)

Gary Kime: Radnor Middle School's athletic director. He also teaches social studies. Gary is a native of Southeastern Pennsylvania, with a degree from Penn and his doctorate from Temple. Gary's wife is an elementary teacher, as is his daughter. Gary retired at the end of the 1997-98 school year after over 35 years in the field.

Ginny Campbell: Principal's secretary and head secretary for the RMS office. In addition to general secretarial duties, Ginny is also in charge of assigning substitute teachers. Not long after the diary, Ginny accepted a position in the central office as secretary to the district's business manager.

Rita Davis: One of three secretaries in the office. She serves as registrar and secretary to the school's counselors. Rita also has an eye for beauty and keeps the office decorated with her many flowers. A Wayne native, Rita continues as a RMS secretary after the diary.

Jeanine Stump: One of three secretaries in the office. She serves as the school's receptionist and as secretary to assistant principal Bill Laffey. As Bill's secretary, Jeanine is in charge of accounting for attendance and discipline. Jeanine is from New Orleans. Shortly after the diary, she left the north's winters to return to New Orleans.

Rose Dodd: Keith's wife. She works as an editor for Educational Ministries in the main offices of the American Baptist Churches in Valley Forge. (Click Here for a Sketch of Rose and the Dodd Family)

Alan Dodd: Keith's son. During the time of the diary he is twenty-five years old. Alan was born in California, grew up and graduated from high school in Wyoming, and works at the national offices of TV Guide in nearby Radnor, as well as working parttime at a local supermarket. (Click Here for a Sketch of Alan and the Dodd Family)

John DeFlaminis: Superintendent of the Radnor school district. A native Pennsylvanian, John has advanced degrees from California and Oregon. After the diary, Dr. DeFlaminis continues as Radnor's superintendent, moving into his 12th year--a much longer tenure than the national average for superintendents.

Larry Martin: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. A product of the Toledo, Ohio area and Kent State University, Larry left soon after the diary to assume the position of Assistant Director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Philadelphia's northern suburbs.

Stephanie Zimmerer: Director of Personnel. In Radnor, the Director not only recruits certificated personnel, but is also responsible for filling positions in areas such as maintenance, transportation, and food services. The Director is a key player in all contract negotiations. Soon after the diary, Stephanie went on to another career.

Jack Ryan: RMS's crossing guard, at a post on the street just outside RMS. A retired bank vice-president, Jack continues after the diary to brave the weather, helping kids and teachers safely cross busy South Wayne Avenue. After the 1997-98 school year, Jack turned in his sign and retired from his "retired job." (Click Here for a Sketch of Jack)

Muriel Hopp: Principal of Ithan Elementary School, one of two elementary schools in the Radnor district. Muriel continued as Ithan's principal until her death in the summer of 1997.

Charlie Shupe: Principal of Wayne Elementary School, one of two elementary schools in the Radnor district. After the diary, Charlie continues as principal of Wayne.

Craig Thorne: The middle school's maintenance man. He came to the district and school during the summer between the two years of the diary, bringing with him a strong background in plumbing (which definitely came in handy!). After the diary, Craig continues as RMS's jack-of-all-trades. (Click Here for a Sketch of Craig)

Dick Jones: Dean of the Salem campus of Kent State University in Ohio. Keith considers Dick a friend and his mentor, providing him with his introduction to individualized instruction in California. Dick, also a Stanford man, served as a consultant to the Glenrock Schools when Keith was in administration there. Dick retired from college administration at the end of the 1998 academic year.

Tyrone Taylor: Director of Custodial Services. Tyrone began as a supervisor for Service Master, when the district contracted with that corporation for custodial services. Later, when the district assumed responsibility for custodial services, Tyrone was appointed head of middle school servies, where he served during the diary. Later, Tyrone was made head of district services, however, he continues to work primarily in the middle school. (Click here to see a sketch of Tyrone.)

Harry: Ficticious name for a teacher at RMS. Another administrator had rated "Harry" as unsatisfactory and had placed Harry on the Intensive Phase of the district's professional evaluation plan. To be as fair as possible, Harry was assigned to another administrator--Keith--for the Intensive Redevelopment Phase. Under redevelopment, the administrator must constantly monitor and offer assistance for improvement. Although the purpose is to help a teacher reach a Satisfactory level, lack of improvement in the given timeframe--a few months--leads to dismissal.

Jannie: Ficticious name for a specific RMS student. "Jannie" was a special needs student who transferred to Radnor from a nearby district. Jannie's mother was very insistent about directing the student's program, which provided for serioius conflict between the school and the mother. Little is known about this student after the Diary years.

Rachael: Ficticious name for a composite of a couple RMS students. "Rachael" was school phobic, and even the thought of coming to school was terrifying. After the Diary, “she” (they) did continue on to high school.

Branford: Ficticious name for a specific RMS student. "Branford" experienced serious outbursts of anger, many out of frustration with a very difficult home situation. He came from a well-to-do home, but his father deserted, leaving the mother to raise their son. After the Diary, Branford attended school in another district.

Meisha Chizkov: District Director of Operations. Meisha, a native of the Ukraine, came on board shortly before the beginning of the Diary. A few years after the Diary, Meisha left the district.

Fergy: A friend from Keith's high school days. During the Diary, Fergy and Keith shared a horse-breeding venture (with one mare). The year after the Diary, they dissolved the partnership.The status of the mare and foal are unknown.

Sam: Ficticious name for a specific RMS student. "Sam" experienced serious peer relationship problems, as well as disruptive behavior outbursts.