I don’t know about you but…

With school starting in August and in full swing I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and recognize the new administrators and teachers that are working in school districts 229 and 230.

As I wrote in my September edition column, there are three new administrators at District 229 this school year. I know two very well. I worked with District 229’s new superintendent Rebecca Bainey for many years and have watched her grow as an administrator the last two years at Kewanee High School.

Amanda Minx takes over as principal at Irving school. I have known her since kindergarten as she was a classmate of my son throughout her schooling in Kewanee and once was a student of mine. I feel very strongly that she has done her due diligence and is ready to take on the challenges of her new position.

Amanda Tidwell takes over as the new KHS principal. I have met and talked with her several times and my first impression has been favorable. All three have been given tremendous responsibilities. Good luck to long and successful careers in their new positions.

The following new teachers are working in the Kewanee Community School District 229 this school year:

At KHS:

Shelby Bailey – Agriculture
Areil Byerly – English
Laurel Keyt – Agriculture
Trenton Terry – Science
Brett VanDeWostine – Math
Dustin Wheelhouse – Welding

At Central:

Gini Bennison – Fifth Grade
Julie Golby – Sixth Grade Math
Annie Johnson – Agriculture
Karen Raschke – Eighth Grade Social Studies
Paige Wexell – Eighth Grade

At Belle:

Kayla Jewel – First Grade
Scott Endress – ESL (also at Neponset)

At Irving:

Eusebia Quintero – Third Grade
Kara Yepsen – Title Math

Districtwide:

Dawn Gale – Instructional Coach
Kayla Sierra-Lee – Music

The following teachers will be starting their First Full Year at Kewanee:

Ana Gerard – Belle Kindergarten
Tom Campbell – KHS Social Studies/Culinary Arts
Willie Terry – KHS Social Studies

The following new teachers are working in the Wethersfield Community School District 230 this school year:

Erin Wyffels – Third Grade
Hannah Wiyrick – Music
Patrick Wilson – Band
Bart Frey- High School Math and Science

Some of the teachers listed above are starting their first year in the education profession. Some are teachers with experience starting their first year at Kewanee or Wethersfield. Regardless, I would like to wish them great success and a long and fulfilling career in education in our city.

I remember my first year teaching at Kewanee High School. In August of 1978 I arrived in the Hog Capital, hired as a science teacher and assistant football coach. Being from the St. Louis area I had never even heard of Kewanee until I met then Principal Marvin Damron at a teacher’s recruitment event in Springfield.

I had the requisite education and was determined to give a career in education a try. I never dreamed that I would complete a rewarding 33-year career in education in the same town. I have said it before, and I probably say it again, the youngsters that I taught and coached at Kewanee, Atkinson and Wethersfield high schools did much more for me as a young and growing adult than I ever did for them.

With that, I hope all our educators embrace the opportunities and responsibilities their chosen profession affords them. I close with the following thought on education from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, “The direction in which education starts a ‘person’ will determine their future life.”

I don’t know about you but…

In my opinion one of the only negatives about a career in education is that it is hard to find time to take naps!