If you want the secret to success, look no further than Geri Fain, long-time assistant superintendent of the Highline School District. Fain is retiring after a distinguished, 42-year career and was celebrated by friends, family and the community at a reception at the Puget Sound Skills Center on May 24.

"I hope that my legacy is that I modeled the highest level of honesty and integrity," says Fain.

Both her professional and personal ties are deeply rooted in the Highline community. A local girl, Fain spent most of her childhood in the area and attended some of the schools she would eventually oversee such as Sylvester Middle School and Highline High School. Always an avid student, she became increasingly interested in an education career when she was a University of Washington student.

"My father was my mentor," says Fain whose father was an educator. "We were exceedingly close and he shared his love of teaching with me."
After graduation, she found herself back in the classroom and in front of a chalkboard. She taught for over a decade and credits it as a crucial component in her later success.

"Having been with the kids and in the classroom, I know both the challenges and opportunities of being a school teacher. I think that lens served me well as an administrator," says Fain.

She began transitioning into administrative positions in 1982 and has served under several superintendents. Former superintendent Kent Matheson recommended her for the position of assistant superintendent, which she assumed in 1987 and has held ever since.

"She hit the ground running and did an outstanding job," says Matheson. "She is a good intellectual leader and understood the issues and ideas." He considers one of her greatest accomplishments is the successful oversight of the remodeling and construction of schools following the passage of the school construction bond in 2002.

"She was responsible for the whole shebang and I have a great deal of respect for what she did," says Matheson.

While she was professionally advocating for children throughout the district, she was equally devoted to being a parent to her two sons with husband Dick Fain.

"She raised two kids during that time and I watched them grow up and they have become outstanding citizens, too," says Matheson.

"At the time, I didn't fully appreciate the amount of time, energy and responsibility she put into her job because she was also always still home to be Mom," says Joe Fain, her younger son. "She never missed a swim meet, she helped with homework and she fixed dinner most nights. Being a mom in and of itself is a full-time job and we never saw her sweat. She coped with incredible grace."

Joe Fain was elected to the Washington State Senate from the Auburn area in November 2010 and continues to value his mother's guidance.

"There are so many issues that come before the Legislature that deal with every aspect of education. On my drive home from Olympia, I call her and she provides that 'boots-on-the-ground" opinion regarding policy," he says. "She has the ability to see how a policy we create in Olympia is going to succeed or fail in the districts and classrooms."

Older son, Dick Fain, Jr., lives in Normandy Park and broadcasts on KJR-AM. He is also the play-by-play voice for the Seattle Storm women's professional basketball team.

Both sons attended Highline schools and graduated from Mt. Rainier High.
"I think my children got a good education here," says Geri Fain. "It was a blessing for me to have a bird's eye view of their education and also be close enough to participate and respond."

Being a parent of Highline students was yet another unique asset she brought to her job.

"Some things that you observe happening to your child, you step back and think, 'Maybe we (the administration) can do something about that.' I was experiencing things as a parent, too, and that gave pause to reflect," she says.

Of course, being both assistant superintendent and a parent sometimes created a unique and comical household experience.

"Mom was one of the people who decided whether school was cancelled on snow days," recalls Joe Fain. "As her phone was ringing to discuss it with the district officials, my phone was also ringing with friends asking me to lobby for her to close school!" he laughs.

Geri Fain is excited for what the future holds during her retirement, but will miss her work at the district.

"It's been a wonderful career and I shall miss it," she says.

She looks forward to continuing her philanthropic work, including her current role as president of the Board of Trustees for Highline Medical Center. Her biggest role ahead, however, is being grandmother to Dixon, her 17-month-old grandson to son Dick Fain, Jr. and his wife Janna.

"I'll probably be the grandmother eventually attending school board meetings saying, 'Now let me tell you something!'" she laughs.