Debbie Phelps cares for 600 kids in addition to the world’s greatest swimmer, and Thursday she returned to Windsor Mill Middle School to prepare for the start of school.
The principal of the Baltimore County school is trying to get back to the daily life she had before she became the world’s most famous single mother, seen on TV nightly rooting on her son, Michael Phelps, as he swam his way to a record eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics.
“I was just there as a parent in the stands to celebrate my young man’s success and to be able to support him and give him guidance and love all along the way,” Phelps told the Associated Press. “I never fathomed that the United States would embrace Michael the way that they have and embrace our family.”
Her son will be in London this weekend for a celebration for the next summer Olympics, in 2012, in which he will compete.
Phelps was not planning on speaking to the media Thursday morning, but with TV camera crews waiting desperately for a comment, she went back outside to speak for two or three minutes, said Charlie Herndon, a spokesman for the school system.
“She’s made it clear with us she really wants to focus on school, prepare her staff and work on getting things ready for Monday” when students return, Herndon said.
“She’s looking forward to a communitywide celebration where she can be with her family and Michael.”
But for Phelps’ staff at Windsor Mill Middle, it was as if their dedicated boss had hardly left. She sent a recorded phone message to students on the Olympics opening night, challenging them to read about the different cultures and countries participating in the games. She also recorded a video message for administrators, teachers and staff who started their school year earlier this week.
The school was buzzing not only because Windsor Mill Middle was about to begin its third year, but because they knew their principal was would soon be walking through the front doors.
Staff prepared a low-key celebration for Phelps. They planned to hang banners with stars on them and words like “Integrity” on cafeteria walls.
But immediately after a small get-together Thursday morning, Herndon said, Phelps jumped back into work.
Kimberly Hutchison, a seventh-grade math teacher at the school, said she would expect nothing less from Phelps. “She’s a very, very, very dedicated person.”
