I saw this front page today and was struck at a couple of levels by the picture of the 16 school administrators about whom the story is written.

The story is about the reassignment of school principals throughout the Amarillo Independent School District. The widespread shuffling appears to have caused some anxiety among parents, who want their children to continue at their schools led by the principals with whom the kids and their parents have grown accustomed.

AISD, though, is proceeding with the shuffling.

The other point is this: Look at the genders of the principals who are moving around. Of the 16 school administrators pictured, 15 of them are women.

I realize I’m old. I also realize that changing times bring changes at all levels of public institutions.

When I was a kid, the principal at Harvey W. Scott Elementary School in Portland, Ore., my hometown, was — to my eyes — a grouchy old man. I long thought that one of the requirements for principals was that they had to be grouchy.

I never saw a female principal at any level of public education back in the 1960s. I went on to junior high school. The principal? Another grouchy guy. On to high school. The principal there? An old man, but one who wasn’t so grumpy; in fact, he and my dad became friends … not that it made a difference in my relationship with the principal, Mr. Anderson.

But I am struck today by the large number of women who are leading this community’s public schools.

Yes, indeed. Times change.