By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Susan Miller was all smiles.
In her seventh year as a teacher, Miller will be teaching fifth grade at Kenwood this year. She always looks forward to witnessing the progress students make.
Miller will be glad to see them, and they’ll be glad to be back to school, if only to see their friends. “A lot of them don’t see each other over the summer.”
And it’s much the same is true for their teachers.
Teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, and the rest of the members of the school team were gathered inside the Performing Arts Center for opening day event Friday. They gathered in groups chatting. Lots of them were smiling.
The event was part pep rally and part business, Treasurer Cathy Schuller reminded new teachers about talking to the life insurance rep and urged all to check out the video about the district’s ethics policy.
The Bobcat Marching Band, led by new director Samantha Preisner, took to the stage and played “Sweet Child of Mine.” That pleased teachers union leader Jeff Nichols. He’s enjoyed hearing their version of the Guns ‘N’ Roses classic for the 33 years he’s been here. And after a tender rendition of the alma mater, the Madrigals, directed by Beth Vaughn, sang a paean to the joys of caffeine.
A small cast of speakers took to the stage to greet assembled and give them words of encouragement.
Norm Geer, represented the Board of Education and an alumnus of the system, said he’d never been on the stage before. On the other hand, Tina Bath, president of the public employees union, said she’s been on the stage hundreds of times … to clean it.
Part of the business at hand was to recognize the new hires. As BGSU President Rodney Rogers noted, many were BGSU graduates,
One, however, didn’t need an introduction. Ted Haselman was hired as superintendent this summer. Bath presented him with a blanket she sewed for him.
Haselman’s hiring is a sign of change within the district.
Geer noted the elementary school he attended on Church Street was torn down this week – it had been serving as the city building.
Voters will be electing a majority of board members as well with three seats open. Only Tracy Hovest of the three incumbents whose terms were up, decided to seek re-election. She’s one of eight candidates vying for the three seats on the five-member board.
And voters will also vote on a bond issue.
Nichols said he was at a meeting the night before and looked around the room and saw lawyers, doctors, tradespeople, mechanics, and teachers who had all been educated in Bowling Green schools. That includes BG Mayor Mike Aspacher, who also greeted the teachers.
Nichols said he was proud to be a member of the team that cares about kids and has done a good job, whether they are a bus driver, custodian, paraprofessional, a secretary, a cafeteria worker, a tutor, a teacher, or an administrator.
“If only they had the facilities to match the staff,” Nichols said.
In his remarks, Haselman referenced sportscaster Ernie Johnson who referred to his job as a “get-to job” as opposed to a “got-to” job. He gets to do what he loves. Interviews high-profile people, as well as being in a high-profile position himself.
Education is also a “get-to job,” Haselman said.
“We get to change lives, we get to impact kids and future generations,” he said.
Angie Schaal, executive director of teaching and learning, reviewed test scores, new reading programs for secondary school students, and a new program to help identify students with dyslexia.
She ended by urging educators to bring joy to their work.
For orchestra director Shawn Hudson, he’s looking forward to taking students to New York City over spring break. The seventh trip he’s led in his 25 years in BG.
For paraprofessional, Kristina Manning, in her second year, she’s looking forward to seeing her students grow and improve.
And Kim Peper, a secretary at Conneaut, is looking forward to seeing how tall the students have gotten over the summer. “They grow so fast.”
