The welcome home was just as warm as the sendoff for Dr. Brad Ross.
As he walked through the doors of Black Hawk Middle School for the first time in nearly a year to resume his assistant …
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The welcome home was just as warm as the sendoff for Dr. Brad Ross.
As he walked through the doors of Black Hawk Middle School for the first time in nearly a year to resume his assistant principal duties, the military veteran was greeted with a symphony of applause.
“The building has been incredible,” said Ross, who returned home from deployment in early February. “Both students and staff — the lengths to which they’ve gone to welcome me back have been extraordinary and more than expected. I’m just grateful to be a part of this building.”
While many of the faces are the same, much has also changed since Ross took a leave of absence last March to fulfill his assignment with the Army.
Offices have been relocated and there is a new head principal at the helm, in addition to many new teachers and staff.
“There’s an adjustment period for sure,” said Ross. “Dr. (James) Allison is new and has brought a number of changes. I’m trying to adjust to those, reacquaint myself, and also all of the sixth graders are new to me.”
He returned home on Super Bowl Sunday to Fort Hood — the same place from which he departed for duty.
“I spent about a week with family, and then it was time to come back to work,” said Ross. “I was anxious to get back to work as quickly as possible.”
Last year during his 17th year of service, Ross was called into a leadership role that had an uncertain timeline.
“I got transferred into a unit in South Dakota that was mobilizing and needing a commander officer,” said Ross. “The Army, in its infinite wisdom, chose me.”
Ross and his unit underwent training, before being relocated to Fort Hood. He was then deployed to Poland for nine months.
Ross says he can’t share much about the mission, in which his unit supported Operation Atlantic Resolve.
“Our unit was in charge of running the ammunition supply point,” said Ross.
The school district prepared for him to be out for the duration of the 2019-20 school year.
“My return date was uncertain,” said Ross. “My orders for the time were for a year, so it was really unknown whether I would be back at all this school year.”
R-III hired a replacement on a one-year contract for the unique circumstance. Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith says the district is pleased to have Ross as a member of its administration.
“We are very grateful to Dr. Ross for sacrificing so much to serve our country,” said Klinginsmith. “He is an excellent example for our young people in the district. We’ve really missed him, and are very excited to have him back.”
While Ross is working on building relationships with those new to him, he won immediate approval in the hearts of many upon his arrival home.
“Dr. Allison kept me out in front of the building on (the morning of my return) longer than we should have been, so I kind of knew something was up,” said Ross. “It was just incredible. Not just the clapping in and lining the halls with students to welcome me back. But I had students I didn’t even know coming up and thanking me for my service. I’m very lucky to be where I am.”
