LA PINE – The first chance Steve Tritten got to teach, a student tried to beat him over the head with a chair.

Tritten tried again.

”Good morning!” he said to a special-needs class of about 12 elementary school children, who had severe emotional problems, when he worked in Pasadena, Calif.

A child yelled at him.

Tritten was 19 years old at the time and an educational assistant. He had started out as a bus driver for the class, but a teacher asked him if he wanted to give education a try.

Thirty-seven years later, he is now principal at La Pine Elementary School, which he has guided for 14 years. But Tritten, 56, has decided to retire after this school year to fish, ski, travel and spend more time with his parents. He looks back on that day in Pasadena as the one that launched his decadeslong career.

”I felt like I was making a difference with these kids,” Tritten said. ”They weren’t killing each other when they went out to recess.”

Tritten has not been struck with a chair by a child during his tenure at La Pine Elementary School, but he has dealt with other challenges.

One of the first issues Tritten tackled was a lack of pride among staff at the 500-student school. He fought a perception that La Pine was the low-level place to start a teaching career.

In his first year as principal, Tritten hired more than 20 staff members.

Test scores also increased during his tenure.

About 70 percent of third-grade students met or exceeded minimum standards on their basic reading tests in the 1997-98 school year. By the 2002-03 school year, almost 90 percent met or exceeded the standards on the tests. In the 2006-2007 school year, about 80 percent did.

”Test scores are only one measure of success,” Tritten said. ”How the community feels is important, too.”

In that area, La Pine Elementary School has also excelled, according to some parents and community members.

An informal survey of 164 parents in October found that 98 percent agreed or strongly agreed that their children liked the school. About 97 percent also agreed or strongly agreed that their children receive a quality education, and 99 percent felt welcome.

”He’s very involved with the kids,” said Angie Manson, who has two children enrolled in the school and moved to La Pine last summer. ”He’s always been here.”

Even kids like him.

”He teaches really good,” said Holden Kelso, an 8-year-old third-grader. ”And he’s funny.”

Born in New York, Tritten grew up in Arcadia, Calif. He moved to Oregon in 1972 and received his master’s degree in special education from the University of Oregon.

While living in the Valley, Tritten worked for five years in the Fern Ridge School District. He moved to Central Oregon in 1992 and soon began his career at La Pine Elementary as a principal.

Tritten will be leaving behind a staff that has enjoyed working with him and sharing memories of days long past.

One colleague said she liked talking music and politics with Tritten, since they both grew up during the same era.

”I’m going to miss talking about songs from the ’60s, ’70s and talking Vietnam,” said Diane Slater, the school’s office manager who has worked there for 17 years. ”He’s been really good with (staff). The doors are open. He’s willing to talk to you.”

Nancy Mabee, the school’s music teacher, agreed with Slater.

”He’s always just so supportive,” she said. ”I think he’s really good for the community.”

Tritten has no immediate plans for the future, other than taking time off to relax and spend time with his parents in San Diego, who have been in declining health.

But every now and then, Tritten said people may catch him helping out at the school.

”It’s time for me to move on,” he said. ”Time to go onto something else. Certainly, I’ll keep watching from the sidelines.”

If you go

People can meet the finalists being considered for principals at three Bend-La Pine schools in the following meetings:

* Elk Meadow Elementary School in Bend from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Monday in the school library.

* La Pine High School from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the high school library.

* La Pine Elementary School from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday in the school library.