Welcome to the first edition of Panther Tales: Dr. Bob Goes Back to School! I’m Cassi Pearson, Superintendent of the Knoxville Public Schools. You might remember Dr. Bob Leonard from his many years of work at KNIA/KRLS radio. He’s retired from his work in radio, and we’ve asked him to help tell the stories and highlight the work we do in the Knoxville School District.
Dr. Bob will help us tell stories of student achievement, as well as the day-to-day work of our dedicated teachers and staff who not only teach the students but those who make the school run. The newsletter will offer a “behind the scenes” look at what we do, and we hope you enjoy it. Our target audience is large--students, parents, relatives, and community members. If you think others might enjoy it, please share widely.
All of the content of the newsletter is free, but we have a couple of subscription options for people who wish to donate to our student activity fund. You will see those options below. The fund supports student travel, athletic equipment, fine arts supplies, and much more. Please give if you are so inclined.
We hope you enjoy this new offering by the Knoxville Public Schools. If you have suggestions for topics, please contact Dr. Bob at rdwleonard@gmail.com.
Kendra Higginbotham, Administrative Assistant for the district smiled and handed me my Knoxville Public School badge.
“You’re official,” she said.
I gulped. “I’m official?”
“Yes, you are.”
With that, I was off on a new adventure. I was in school again for the first time in many years, and I was both excited and a little nervous, for after all I was the new “kid” in school.
At least I felt like it anyway. I’m familiar with the district and many of the great things it does, and two of our kids have recently graduated from Knoxville High, and are off to great starts with their careers, as are their friends. I’m proud to say that our kids received a much better education in Knoxville than I did long ago in another district in Iowa. And that makes me proud.
After Kendra gave me my badge, I wandered around a bit and spoke with a few people, but I want to begin in a different place. In the beginning.
By 1843, the first settlers from Europe arrived in central Iowa, and the town of Knoxville was formed in 1845. The first schools at the time were “subscription schools,” where the parents of the children who could afford it paid for their kids to attend. By 1857, there were about 200 kids in four different subscription schools around town. Like our founding fathers, the people of Knoxville knew that educating our entire populace in public schools--not just those who could pay for it--was critical for our young democracy to thrive, so they agreed to use tax money for a public school that was an investment in their kids, the community, and in democracy.
The school opened in 1859. I believe the above is an image first school building, according to Knoxville, Iowa Public Schools 1850 to 1954 by Alan M. Remy, published in 1964. (Historians, please contact me if I have this incorrect).
After the school was built and before classes began in the fall of 1859, officials realized that there weren’t enough funds to furnish the building. Students were told to bring their own benches or chairs to sit on.
Fortunately, before classes began, the town had raised enough money to provide chairs and desks.
That’s Knoxville. For over 160 years, our citizens have stepped up to do the right thing in funding and supporting our public schools.
When I was a kid, I wasn’t good at school. I had undiagnosed ADD, and couldn’t keep still or pay attention (unless I was reading). Fortunately for me, while they didn’t have resources for kids like me back then, my teachers recognized that I needed to get away from my desk on occasion, and my lifeline back then were custodians. They always needed (or act like they needed) my help. Custodians drove our school buses, and they let me (I was honored) sit beside them on the wheel well and control the bus stop sign. Such a thrill! And, after lunch and when school was over for the day, I helped them take the trash out and clean up. In elementary school, the head custodian paid me and a buddy a nickel a week to help, and we were happy to be gainfully employed!
So on my first day back to school in Knoxville, who do I search out? Of course, the custodians—my comfort zone. While I will feature more custodians in the future, this week I sat down with Elaine Bazer, Sue Rider, and Kevin Pearson to talk about the important work they do at West Elementary.
Please, listen to the interview above. Hear the pride in their voices about what they do to help keep our kids and grandkids safe.
To the left are Elaine Bazer and Sue Rider. They encouraged Kevin (on the right) to join them in the photo, but he declined, saying he was “unavailable” when he clearly was. I found Kevin to be hilarious, and he must be fun to work with. He gave me permission to use the photo on the right, which he said was his best side as he fled the room. I think Kevin must be in a witness protection program, but what do I know? Listen to the audio to learn about their backstories, why they enjoy working in the Knoxville School District, and why they are proud to be the first line of defense protecting the kids of Knoxville by keeping the building clean. If you listen, you will also learn why Kevin calls all of the kids “Jerry,” and how valuable they consider the maintenance workers.
One of the most powerful statements came from Sue, about how much she respects teachers and other staff:
You know when I came here it amazed me; how selfless these people are. I walk down those halls doing my job and you know, you notice a lot of things around you when you're out in the halls a lot. And the teachers, the staff, and not just teachers, all the staff. They just put their head down and they just grind and they just do whatever they got to do to make it happen. And sometimes it amazes me what they can accomplish. If one sees the other one needs help, they're right there. They just see it. They don't say much. They don't complain. They just, if they see someone needs help, they just dive in and help, they just...it amazes me how they're very aware of their surroundings and everything that goes on. It's you know, you've got behavior and they really back each other up and help with that and they're so professional on how they handle that. They're very patient, very calm. They amaze me. They don't just teach they also mentor, and parent even, you know, they're parenting these kids sometimes. Just the fundamentals. They just...they're learning, they really are.
Now that’s pride in what you do, and respect for those you work with.
At the Middle School Gym, Volleyball practice was going on. The kids were honing their skills and having fun.
I saw that the slab for the new concession stand and restrooms by Randy Wilson Track had been poured, and the staff tell me that framing will begin this week.
These two young men were doing landscaping.
I stopped by Kids Club at West and spoke to these bright young students who were on their way to lunch. They told me a bit about what they like about Kids Club and their favorite subjects in school. Have a listen.
And here are the Kids Club kids in the lunch line, helped by staff who care about them very much.
I was pleased to see that one young woman working with the group this summer was in Kids Club herself not that long ago (to me anyway). She’s a soon-to-be sophomore at Iowa State University, and the education she received beginning in Kids Club and continuing through her years in the Knoxville Public Schools has prepared her very well for higher education, and life. What a great mentor for the kids!
We hope you enjoyed this first edition of Panther Tales: Dr. Bob Goes Back to School. You will find it in your inbox early every Monday morning. If you enjoyed it, please share and encourage others to subscribe. If you are so inclined please consider being a paid subscriber. All proceeds will go into the student activity fund. There are two subscription options. One is as an individual member, which is an investment of $5.00 a month or $50 per year. If you want to be a founding member, it’s a tax-deductible investment of $250 per year, and should you choose, we will recognize you at the bottom of every post for your donation. Please remember—it’s not a cost. It’s an investment. In our kids and grandkids, in Knoxville, and in our future.