Dozens of educators say goodbye
KHSD recognizes teachers' contributions at meeting
| Monday, Jun 01 2009 10:52 PM
Last Updated Monday, Jun 01 2009 11:01 PM
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Bill Bruce
If the past week was for graduation, Monday night was for retirement: The Kern High School District bid farewell to over 80 educators with more than 2,296 cumulative years of public service.
Before he distributed plaques to retiring teachers and administrators, Superintendent Don Carter noted it was a "bittersweet time."
Although some may have been reticent about their decision, there were far more smiles than tears on display as teachers accepted a handshake and posed for a final photo before heading into another chapter of their lives.
In an average year, the district loses about 30 teachers; this year's special retirement benefit, no doubt coupled with the uncertain economic future in education, led more teachers to opt for travel, "sleeping in late" and catching up with family instead of adding another year or three to decades of service.
One of those accepting recognition was Bill Bruce, the principal of Frontier High School.
"It's kind of like leaving the love of your life," said Bruce, who retired from the district after 41 years, 22 as a principal.
"I don't want any attention on me, I'd just as soon slip into the sunset," said Bruce, who purposely kept the news of his retirement quiet so it wouldn't upstage Frontier's graduation last week.
"There comes a moment when teachers are no longer part of an institution, you become the institution yourself," said Mitch Olson, president of the Kern High Teachers Association, describing the process by which longtime teachers become entwined with the community.
"They all have such wonderful smiles," Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Bill Jones commented as he read brief statements and thanked each teacher for their service, most of whom he knew personally.
Essie Davis, South High assistant principal, retired with 35 years of service planning to do more heirloom quilt design.
George Mawson from East High, after 36 years as a teacher, planned to fly-fish for brown trout.
And after 38 years as a teacher, Discovery's Ronald McCraw will raise a golden retriever puppy to be a service dog.
Richard and Barbara Giese are retiring together. Barbara, from Golden Valley, taught for 38 years. Richard, who taught science in classroom F55 for all of his 42 years at South High, said he looked forward to "waking up later than 5:30 a.m."
Bruce voiced an education principle: The idea of ushering a set of seniors all the way to graduation, followed by a new group of kids arriving each August, is constant reaffirmation that "we make a difference in kids' lives."
In other news, projections of declining enrollment in the district in years ahead mean as many as 50 employees may need to be laid off in 2011 and 2012. The board will review next year's finalized budget plan, estimated at $397 million for 2009-10, at a June 22 board meeting.
Further program reductions due to the state budget decline will be discussed.
