Back in Time - Teaching Buddies

WRHS Faculty 1981
Front row: Ethel R., Sue O., Bev S., Margaret S., Chuck G., Bill H.,
Sharon N.. Second Row: Alice N., Allen H., Jim N., Nancy J.
Back row: Nancy S., LeRoy S., Jim N., Bert O., Kris N., Louise O.

After I returned from teaching in Japan, my next job was teaching Language Arts (English) and Journalism at Wind River High School. Even though I saw a LOT of principals come and go during that time period, the staff members were fairly consistent. In my opinion, it was the longevity and dedication of the staff that kept the school from imploding from the revolving door on the principal's office. For a period of time, we had a new principal every year or every other year and a somewhat militant school board as well. It was the staff that provided the stability the students needed during those years. This group of educators and support staff always put the students first, and I was proud to work with every one of them.

Over the years, one by one, we retired and turned in our classroom keys and grade books. Some now substitute or work as paraprofessionals in the classroom, but others are enjoying complete retirement. Two individuals in the photo above (Kris F. and Bill H.) officially retired in May 2016.

Last month, Chuck and Renee G. hosted a BBQ at their house because Bill H. (who moved to Omaha  and taught there for nearly a decade) was visiting the area. Former staff who didn't have prior commitments gathered at the BBQ and caught up on each other's lives and reminisced a bit, too.

The recent photo below shows we're all a bit grayer. If you're curious to compare, the names of those in both photos are bold and italicized in the captions.

WRHS Faculty (nearly all retired) 2016
Front: Margaret S., Deb G., Phyllis P., Kris F., Bill H., LeRoy S., Dennis V.
Back: Chuck G., Renee G., Nancy S., Dick Q., Jim P., Bruce G.

It was great to visit with a few of my old teaching buddies again.