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Margo Hall, first woman principal at Leon High, leaves vibrant legacy
Margo Hall, the energetic Latin teacher to Tallahassee, and the first ever woman principal at Leon High School died Aug. 1 at age 84.
Hall taught Latin at Godby, Lincoln, Leon and Trinity Catholic, and was principal at Leon from 2001-2005. A vivacious phenomenon, Hall was many times an educational award-winner, as well as wife, mother, and scholastic inspiration to a generation of Tallahassee young people.
Michael Hall, her youngest son, spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat from his home in California about the legacy his mother left, and about the many students who unexpectedly found life lessons that he himself carries forward in Hall's disciplined yet passionate love of Latin.
'My mother was an engine of action,' he said. 'She has always been my hero, my idol. She had a mantra that she lived by and imparted. It goes: ' 'Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.' '
Hall says he doesn't believe she ever let go of that dedication.
Margaret O'Conner Hall was born in Jacksonville. Along with her mother, an anesthesiologist, and father, a psychiatrist and surgeon, and three little brothers, the family moved to Chattahoochee. Hall attended a Catholic girl's school in Louisiana, and went on to Barry College in Miami Shores, where on a full scholarship she majored in English, Latin, and history, graduating summa cum laude, as president of her class.
Hall went on to earn her Master's degree from Florida State University in Latin, and to wed a young Air Force captain. Moving to four different states and beginning their family, Hall lived the life of a devoted wife and mother until the family's return to Tallahassee in 1971.
And then, using her 'Latin' credentials, Hall began what would become a 44-year commitment to essentially every high school in the city of Tallahassee, where she went from teaching Latin part-time to becoming Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, Leon County Interim Executive Director for Special Programs, and finally, becoming one of the driving forces for and the Assistant Principal of St. John Paul II High School.
In her early days in Tallahassee, always committed to her growing family, Hall taught Latin students at Godby High School for 10 years, then part-time at Godby and Lincoln High School at the same time. From 1980 until 1994, she became Leon High's full-time Latin teacher, tutoring at Trinity Catholic School on the side.
She remained at Leon to become the Dean of Students in 1994, then Lincoln's Assistant Principal in 1997 for the next four years. Hall returned to Leon High as Principal from 2001-2005, then after serving with the County, she worked as Assistant Principal until her retirement in 2015 at St. John Paul II High School.
Suggesting some of the spontaneity and personality that drew people to Hall, a colleague and admirer had written in a recommendation letter that: 'Margo sparkles. She is so full of vitality, of energy, of enthusiasm that one cannot help but feel that way too. When Margo steps into a classroom, it immediately becomes a more interesting place to be.'
And the plaudits and responsibilities began to accumulate: Outstanding Teacher from Florida, The Education Committee of the States, 1987; Florida Teacher of the Year Finalist, Florida Foreign Language Association, 1989; sponsor of the student Latin club, Rebus Ghestis. Chairman, Leon County Language Teachers Association. She became President of the Junior League; was on the Governor's Council for Juvenile Justice; a member of the Tallahassee Garden Club, on the Boards of Blessed Sacrament and St. Thomas Moore congregations; a Board Member of Goodwood Museum; and on Board of Directors of the Tallahassee Junior Museum.
Her son, Michael, who had her as his Latin teacher when he attended Leon High, said, 'I had to be kept in line, it's true, but her work ethic and study habits transferred to me.' He would go on to spend several years teaching Latin at Maclay School.
Yet what he remembers most is Margo's brilliant smile, her generous heart, and the little details of her life after retirement in 2018: 'It was fun watching her devour her historical fiction,' he said. 'How she loved the beach and traveling in the mountains, wandering old pottery shops, and soft music.'
And he suspects there are hundreds of former students who may love those things too, but who are also fascinated by languages and who always turn their work in early — all as a result of a semester spent with Margo Hall.
A rosary service is planned for 1-1:30 p.m. Aug. 23 with a funeral mass to follow at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Margo Hall, former Leon principal and Latin teacher, dies at 84
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