End of an Era

There are times in history when the pundits say "this marks the end of an era" and for the most part they are correct. But what happens when it is a personal "end". Several things have happened lately in the small town where I teach. There has been name calling, hateful websites constructed to demean and destroy people, but there was always the sense that "tomorrow" things would get back on track - people would heal- and I would get up and do the same thing I have been doing for the past 18 years - after all isn't that what we say about all run-away trains..............Eighteen years ago I was a naive young teacher starting her first day at a new school. I decided late in life to change my career and teach - I believe that teaching is actually embedded in our DNA - no matter how hard we try to ignore it pushes its way into our hearts.

End Number 1
After interviewing with Mr Hammack I was interviewed by Mr. Jerry Burd. I liked him - he sounded positive and encouraging. Little did I know that a few years later he would become my superintendent - and I would become the SEA (teachers union) president. I can not tell you what a wonderful relationship we had - his door was ALWAYS open - I can not remember one time when I went to his office that he did not stop what he was doing and spent some time with me - discussing issues (even to this day we laugh about the "tennis shoe" issue). He truly loved the school, the school district, and most of all he loved the kids. EVERYTHING he did was basically to help make it easier for the students to achieve. There have literally been dozens of "new" ideas for teaching and Mr. Burd had us explore them all.
We found out that Mr. Burd has decided that enough is enough and has opted to retire effective this June. How sad that the "End of an Era" has to be so painful. I am sure that those who had this hidden agenda had a party while the majority of us felt a deep sense of loss - sadness- and a questioning about how a school district that has raised test scores, that has a wonderful sense of family, can loose a leader like Mr. Burd.We will survive, after all, it is a school and educating our young will continue - but there will be that sense that something is gone.

End Number 2

The second piece of news came as a total shock! I remember when my friend called me and said “Mr. Smith has resigned”. I just stood in the kitchen and kept repeating “I can’t believe it, I don’t know what to say”. Finally I said I would have to call her back because all I kept saying was “I can’t believe it”. This man was the School Board President.
He has been there forever. I can tell you the first time I met the man and what his message was to the teachers that morning. He inspired us to be the best teachers we could be. He promised us he would work with passion to get us the things we needed to be successful in the class. Even as I write this I can not find the words to express how much this man has meant to the school, the teachers but most importantly to the students.
Do you realize that we have one of the best school districts in Northeastern Oklahoma?? Do you realize that we have over 50 smartboards in the classrooms, while Tulsa teachers are just praying for computers? We have computer labs and testing that some school districts will not see in ten years. We are so cutting edge in some of our technology that other schools come to us for training. ALL OF THIS comes from a school board that had FAITH in our teachers, and had a DESIRE to see our students succeed.
He will be so missed. I wish him all the best, all the love that he inspired in our students, and all the happiness and peace that comes with knowing that YOU were HERE for a reason, a purpose and you have succeed in the plan that God had set for you.
Good bye and God Bless

Mr. Burd, and Mr. Smith



(the train is still out of control……..)