School principal retired after 33 years of service. Weeks later, he turned up as their handyman
David White thought retirement life would be 'easy' and 'blissful.' Apparently not
Most people see retirement as a chance to slow down and finally enjoy a quieter life. However, that's not the case with 58-year-old Atlanta native and former elementary school principal David White, who, within just a few months, understood that sitting on the couch along with your cat isn't as amusing as he thought it would be. So, he decided to return to the Burgess-Peterson Academy, where he spent 10 years, but not with the same job, as reported by @CBSEveningNews in a clip on May 16, 2026, which has garnered over 48,000 views.
Retired life wasn't it for White
White thought retired life would be "easy" and "blissful." However, before he knew it, he started feeling lonely, missing the hustle and bustle of school life. This was natural as White had spent the last 33 years of his life educating the youth. Out of those, he nearly spent 15 years as a principal, even winning the best principal award for the entire Atlanta school district. But, obviously, he couldn't return to the school as a principal, as they had already hired someone else. So, he waited until the right opportunity came his way.
One day, the opening for a site manager opened up at the Burgess-Peterson Academy, and White, without even thinking twice, applied. Upon consideration by the new principal, Holly Brookes, White's application was accepted. Soon enough, White returned to the same school he once ran. But now, instead of sitting in the front office, he spends his days doing all sorts of work, from pressure washing bathrooms, clearing out gutters, inspecting fire extinguishers, and even spreading the courtyard mulch. "I had lost my sense of community, for sure, so when this position became available, I kind of laughed because I used to say that it would be the perfect retirement job," he told CBS News.
'It doesn't bother me at all'
While there's no doubt that every work should be respected, this isn't something we see every day. However, that doesn't bother White, "I'm one of the bottom rung, right? If you look at it in a hierarchical way. It doesn't bother me at all. I still feel like I'm contributing meaningfully to a place I really care about." This statement alone speaks volumes about White's character and about who he is as a person. Even though he has returned as a handyman, he has the same impact on students and staff alike. "I really feel that having him back has added so much value to our community, and it's really been a joyful thing for all of us," said Brookins.
White's story as an inspiration
The transition from moving out of the workforce is quite hard for most people, just like White. Research published in BMC Public Health found that nearly one in five older adults reported loneliness around the transition into retirement. The study also linked retirement and social isolation with worsening mental well-being in older adults. Another study found that 52% of retirees surveyed showed symptoms of depression, while 21.8% reported loneliness.
Meanwhile, people are more than impressed by White and his dedication to contributing in any way possible. @blueturtle1719 wrote, "I love it when people do what makes them happy and admire them when they don’t care about the status or the job title and just put in an honest day’s work." While @el7jake commented, "Love these stories about 'ordinary' people who really love to contribute any way that they can. He looks and sounds happy to be at his school, albeit in a different position. All the best to him."
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