Long-time teachers retire as school year ends

The careers of several area teachers came to a close with the recent ending of the 2016-17 school.

When the school year ended this year, some prominent teachers headed into retirement.

Chris West of St. Regis has been gathering up more than 15 years of school memorabilia from her science room. There, she taught science to grades seven through twelve, as well as some music and a title class, she said. West also taught for 12 years before starting at St. Regis.

West was in charge of the annual science fair and even brought students to the annual Montana Science Fair in Missoula over the past few springs, with a few qualifying for the State fair. West also procured a grant for a weather balloon in 2015 and, over the past few years, students had the opportunity to learn about weather, mapping and other scientific information.

She said she’ll miss her students the most and also being in her science room. However, she plans on substitute teaching and also plans on going back to college to get her doctorate in anthropology and archaeology, along with doing some traveling.

Another long-time teacher who retired this year was Diane Gingerich. She also has been teaching at St. Regis for 15 years. She taught fourth and fifth grade, plus middle school. Her teaching career spans 21 total years, with a few at Victor and Hot Springs schools.

Gingerich said it’s been a long time since she’s been able to just kick-back and do her own thing, which includes a love for cooking and baking. When her oldest child graduated from high school, Gingerich graduated from college and began her career.

Over the years, she’s been instrumental in creating a unique and challenging classroom for her students, including the “Roaring Readers” group of students who were assigned to write an essay about what they are thankful for and then they read their essays to the seniors at the Mineral Community Hospital.

She said she’ll miss the relationships she’s developed with her students and watching their discovery when they learn something new, “but it will be nice to move at my own pace.”

She plans on travelling with her husband to see her great-grandchildren, who live in Utah and Colorado.

Alberton School is also losing a few of its staff members. Superintendent Clay Acker will be leaving his post after four-years at the school. Acker moved to Alberton in 2008 and was on the school board before taking the helm as superintendent. Prior to that, he had been a teacher and principal for 31 years in Wisconsin.

He felt it was time to retire and plans on spending time puttering around a new house he and his wife, Connie, recently purchased up Petty Creek. He also plans to do some fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.

Acker said that he will miss the relationships he’s developed over the past years and the busyness of the place. They also plan on doing some traveling, with their first trip being to Hawaii, where his daughter is getting married.

Steve Picard has been hired as the school’s new superintendent. He is from Roy, Mont. and he will begin July 1.

Glen Teeters is also hanging up his keys this year. Teeters taught math for 46 years at Alberton and retired from his teaching post a few years ago. He then became the school’s transportation director and a bus driver. However, he’s decided to retire and do some traveling with his wife, Donna. They plan to spend more time with their granddaughter. He was presented a plaque of recognition at graduation ceremonies in May from fellow retiree, Clay Acker.

In Superior, a long-time school advocate Gordon Hendricks retired. He wore many hats at the school over his years there and said the kids taught him more than he taught them. During graduation ceremonies in May, Hendricks walked with the class and was the guest speaker.

What got him involved at the school was when he was the Mayor of Superior. During that time he saw a lot of students who should have been in school but weren’t. He went to then Superintendent, Allan Labbe, and asked how he could help out and remedy the situation.

As a volunteer, Hendricks started the Community Involvement Resource Training (CIRT) program. This required students to find employment in the community and work one period a day, as well as after school and during the summers. Another program he spearheaded was a service learning class, where students contracted for community projects. They then wrote up the contracts and figured out what tools they would need and how big of a crew for the job.

He was also the Business Professionals of America (BPA) supervisor, assisted with track, the music class, and was a substitute teacher. He plans on continuing his work with the BPA students. Hendricks said the current supervisor, Jamie Toivonen is “one of the best business teachers he’s ever had the pleasure to work with.”

In addition to being the Mayor for 12 years, Hendricks was also the Deputy Coordinator, worked with the Search and Rescue team and was elected as the representative for House District 14. He is currently on the board for the airport, the Mineral County Planning Board, the Eva Horning Park and the TV Board.

He and his wife, Vicki, who recently retired from the Partnership Health Center, plan on doing some traveling. In particular, they have a trip planned to Scotland and Ireland this fall. Hendricks said his family originated from the area. He said he’s a history “nut” and is looking forward to the trip. The couple has five grandchildren live in Missoula and Spokane and they will be spending more time with family.

Hendricks said one of his prize possessions is a plaque he received in April. The school administration surprised him with the award in Helena given by the Montana Association of Secondary School Principals. It reads “2017 Community Partnership in Education Award”, which about sums up his last 21 years at Superior School.