Madison Elementary Principal Tom Kline will end his 40 year career at the end of the school year.

WARSAW — After a 40 year career in education, Madison Elementary Principal is retiring at the end of this school year.

Kline has worked with students of all ages, from those who are just beginning their education in kindergarten to students in college.

The principal says he began teaching because, “I didn’t know anything else.” His father was a teacher and basketball coach. The example of his father propelled him to follow in his footsteps and pursue a fulfilling career in education.

“I loved every minute of it,” said Kline.

Kline received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and secondary education from Hanover College. He received a Masters in school administration from Xavier College.

The first 20 years of his career were spent in Lawrenceburg, teaching middle school and high school. The next 20 years were spent at schools in the Warsaw area.

He has served in various roles such as principal and chief accountability officer at Lakeview Middle School. For the last five years, he has served as the principal at Madison Elementary.

The soon to be retiree says he has enjoyed working with all students no matter what their ages are, “You have to understand their age level.”

Even after his retirement comes up in the next couple of months, Kline will stay busy. While he doesn’t have any specific plans after retirement, he does plan to spend time with his wife and four children. He also hopes to spend time with two recent additions to the family. Last month, Kline became a grandfather when his two grandchildren, a pair of twins, were born.

After spending the majority of his life in an educational setting, Kline is considering working part-time after his retirement. With the wide variety of positions Kline has held in the realm of education, he feels he has a skill set that could help a lot of people during his retirement. Whether the job may be with young kids, or college students, Kline is open to different opportunities that may arise.

Kline says what he will miss most is simply the contact with children and their parents. The most rewarding aspect of his 40 year career has been to witness so many students excel.

“Every time you see someone succeed is a reward.”