Guilbeaux’s tenure as Vermilion Catholic principal winds down

When Mike Guilbeaux retired as North Vermilion High principal in 2008, after 33 years in the public school system, he didn’t plan on another stint in education.
He ended up finding one anyway, one that has lasted a dozen years. So now, Guilbeaux feels the time is right to again head off into retirement.
At the official end of the school year, Guilbeaux will say goodbye to Vermilion Catholic after spending the 12 years at the school, including the past 11 as principal.
“It’s been a good run,” Guilbeaux said of his time at VC. “It’s another journey that has allowed me to grow.”
That journey began in ‘10, after Guilbeaux spent a couple of years working in marketing for Schilling Distributing.
“I probably could have stayed there forever,” Guilbeaux said. “It was a great place, and I enjoyed that time.”
Guilbeaux eventually received an opportunity to join VC as an assistant principal. He said it made sense, as he lives right across the street.
“I had a great 33 years in the public system,” Guilbeaux said. “I enjoyed my time. When I did leave, it was not with the intent of looking for another job in education. I was 56, still young. I came here as an assistant, to kind of help out.
“I was going to stay a couple of years.”
He stayed longer.
“This opportunity has allowed me to give something back,” Guilbeaux said. “That is something that I always wanted to do.”
On Monday, Guilbeaux had the opportunity to speak to his final graduating class. It’s a class that has endured during the past couple of years.
“We had to take them through the COVID(-19) pandemic,” Guilbeaux said. “I like little sayings. When the pandemic started, the saying for the Class in ‘20 was, ‘I believe.’ We believed that we were going to get through it. The next year was, ‘I know.’ We saw the challenges and knew they would be stronger for it. This year was about life lessons, what we learned from it.”
The pandemic affected Guilbeaux’s decision on when would be the right time to leave VC.
“You never know when the right time will be,” Guilbeaux said. “I would think about it. But, then, when the pandemic hit us, I wanted to see it through.”
There were other factors, too. Namely, VC’s acquisition of Mount Carmel, creating Vermilion Catholic, a Legacy of Mount Carmel.
“When we merged with Mount Carmel,” Guilbeaux said, “I felt like I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be part of the transition to move forward.”
Guilbeaux is now helping with another transition, that of Dr. Stella Arabi becoming the new principal at VC. That move will be effective July 1.
“That process is going well,” Guilbeaux said.
While that is going smoothly, Guilbeaux admitted there would be some work to do to ease into retirement.
“It will take me a little bit of time to adjust,” Guilbeaux said. “I think one of the things I will miss the most is communicating and planning with others. I will miss talking to kids and talking to parents.
“The people, that is what I am going miss the most.”
Those with whom Guilbeaux has communicated and planned during his 45 years in education is too long to even begin to list.
“Whether it was in Erath, 7th Ward, North Vermilion or VC,” Guilbeaux said, “I have had the opportunity to work with many great people.
“I have made a lot of good friends.”
When he left North Vermilion, Guilbeaux didn’t plan on VC being among his stops. He’s happy he made the decision.
“I have no regrets,” Guilbeaux said. “I have been very blessed.”