Wall's plan was to work part time for a consultant firm in Texas after retiring.
But instead he remarried, moved to Nashville and started work as the leader of Nashville's largest and highly scrutinized high school.
"I got married, moved and started a new job within three weeks — the three most stressful things they say you can do,'' Wall said. "So the rest should be easy.''
Wall smiles with the statement, knowing the job at McGavock won't be easy as he tries to improve the school's academic performance and its disciplinary environment.
The journey to McGavock may unknowingly have started in May 2008 when Wall's wife of 26 years, Sandra Wall, died of cancer.
Wall had decided the 2008-09 school year, his 31st, would be his last.
Each year Wall's school in Texas held a Design Studio for educators from all over the country. He remembers several Nashville educators there who mentioned the need in the system for quality principals.
Then Wall got an opinion from a woman at the consulting firm he was going to work for part-time, that maybe he wasn't ready to get out of education. So Wall was convinced to send a resume to Nashville.
"I got a call from Jim Briggs,'' Wall said, referring to the then, associate director of high schools for Metro. "He said if you're serious about coming we'd like to talk to you.''
Personally, Wall was eager for a fresh start with his new wife, Michelle Sanchez-Wall.
And professionally, Wall believed the Smaller Learning Academy concept Metro is working to implement at McGavock and other zoned high schools fell in line with his experience.
Metro school board member Steve Glover has said the smaller learning academy concept that divides teachers and students in different areas of study was a noticeable strength at Wall's school in Texas.
"He ran a school in Irving that is phenomenal, and I think he brings that talent to Metro and I think McGavock deserves that,'' Glover said. "He understands the environment of small learning academies, and he was available. So why not take advantage of it?''
After marrying July 2, Wall and his bride came to Nashville on July 3. Wall had been to Nashville only once before.
Wall is committed to at least five years, he has told teachers, parents and students.
Stability is vital to McGavock, Wall knows. He is the fourth principal in the last 11 months.
Many parents were upset when Michael Tribue was reassigned after the 2007-08 year. The decision to make Karl Lang principal at Whites Creek this school year after he took over as an interim principal in the second semester of 2008-09 instead of returning to McGavock also upset some parents and students.
But Wall has made good initial impressions on parents by meeting with them, McGavock PTSO president Sylvia Houston-Little said.
"The ideas he has and where he wants McGavock to go are exciting,'' Houston-Little said. "The authority … and leadership.''
