It has been 35 years since Fair Oaks Principal Kathy Pinol went from student to educator, but on Friday, June 3 that all came to an end.

After 35 years of living her passion, Principal Pinol will now transition to the title of ‘retired.’

“This is my time and there’s still things I want to do,” Pinol said. “I don’t want to be too old to do them.”

A passion which began as a small girl, Pinol shared when she was a teenager she would help former Oakdale educators Pam Antinetti and Pat Kuhn with a summer school program. Two legendary educators, who inspired the teen to pursue her dream.

Beginning her career student teaching in Hickman and then teaching there as well, Pinol returned “home” to Oakdale Joint Unified 15 years ago, serving as vice principal of Sierra View Elementary under longtime friend and former OHS classmate Terri Taylor.

“I loved it. I really did,” she said of returning to Oakdale schools, “because you knew so many of the families. I graduated from Oakdale High, my mom and my kids did as well.”

In 2014 the OHS alum made the transition between schools and became the principal of Fair Oaks Elementary.

“I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished and who they’ve become,” she said of the staff, noting the COVID learning period as a very proud time, watching the teachers as well as classified staff work together to continue to have a positive impact on the students.

“The people, the kids,” she said of the best part of coming to work. “I think some of the things that made a huge difference to me was being able to make a difference in some kids’ lives.”

As she continued to speak about the students and the staff, the longtime educator confessed to being emotional from sentiment, not sadness.

“It all went fast … every year. I think that’s the difference with teaching too. There’s always an end to it,” she said of each school year. “Then you do the next thing and there’s an end to it. Where in the business world, you just kind of keep going. You keep rolling.”

Now looking to the future, Pinol emphasized the time for which she has decided to step away was a longtime plan. Always knowing when she hit a certain age, she would be ready to move on to what was next. The coincidence of COVID is simply that and had no impact on her decision to retire.

Pinol shared she always felt her age would help determine her retirement, spending enough time in her tenure and young enough to still enjoy life post-retirement.

For the past three years she has also taught night classes at UMass Global to students seeking their credential. She will now take on a position supervising student teachers.

“I feel like I still kind of have a hand in education,” she said and when she’s not doing that, “then I’m going to rock babies. I’m still not sure where.”

And though she has been in education for more than three decades, she said it truly doesn’t seem that way.

“It’s all just flown by,” she said of her career end.