Re-charged- and saying goodbye….

I am in Colorado Springs presenting to the Colorado Association of School Boards. The first four months of school are a blurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. David Warlick just finished his Keynote to over 2,000 school board members and he really charged me up. I had the privilege of meeting David after his Keynote and discuss our views on 21^st Century Classroom Skills and Implementation. More on that discussion later on the blog…. http://toolsfortheclassroom.blogspot.com/

…… David’s message is the reason I am back on the blog and bringing you up to date.

As many of you know I will be retiring on December 31, 2007. First a little background in my tenure in Durango…

In 1994, I began as the Information Technology Director and the department consisted of one person …me. The district had one file server and 42 Apple IIe computers, 14 Macs and 15 IBM PC’s. A total of 71 computers for the district. The Internet use was just beginning and a district wide network for connecting all 10 schools was a figment of our imagination. Fast forward 14 years with 42 File Servers, 2,018 computers, Internet connection to every classroom, Fiber connection for the District office to the middle and high school, Interactive Video Conferencing at all schools, VoIP phones, direct dial to all classrooms, 9-1-1, ID to all classrooms, Blogs, Wiki’s, Podcasting and Visual Literacy in our schools and it all makes my head spin.

Today, our department consists of a staff of 10 and 2 College Interns. These individuals are the most dedicated employees I have ever been involved with. They are all serving in the District to be of service and support for all 678 staff members and all of the 5,000 students. These individuals are the heart and soul of this department and the district.

Last week in our weekly staff meeting, I shared how much I would miss each of them and how much I was going to miss the daily interaction of my staff and all of the individuals that work in the district. I was attempting to be the big macho Information Technology Director and not show any emotion….but in the middle of the thank you… I lost it… I felt the tears welling up in my eyes…my mouth going dry…my heart starting to race…..and it hit me…. how much my involvement in the Durango School District in so imbedded in my everyday life and a part of my heart and soul….. I am really going to miss this place.....all I could do is say, “Thank You” to all of them and go in my office, close the door and let my emotion out….it took me 20 minuets to compose myself and wipe the tears from my eyes….

My deepest heartfelt thanks go to, Roger Dodd, Parker Jardine, Brain Schoff, Chris Lake, Ramon Milanez, James Torres, William Schutt, Joe Green, Kimball Hutchins, Aaron Farrington , and Angel Hawkey for make the department the best in the state of Colorado the shining star of the Durango School District.

Another significant success marker is our Media Specialists at our 10 Schools. They have been the connection for me to each school. They NEVER say no…..Our Technicians provide the training to assist them the basics of trouble shooting the technology equipment. Their dedication is such that I have arrived at their schools to find a lady in proper school attire – (i.e. dress and blouse) on the floor under a desk tracing the wire to find out why a computer would not start correctly. Every one of them go above an beyond the call… Thank you to:

Janet Oliver, Sue Mooney, Ann Ruetschle, Mary Kay Oneil, Cindy Tucson, Marilyn Zion, Trish Kilpatric, Danna Neilson, Suzanne Wickman, – Michelle Brown – and Steve Powell.

Over the past 14 years there is so much history, including many Superintendents, including Walt Jackson who originally hired me, Harvey Guest, Gene Young (can I tell you stories about this piece of history), Joel Jones – (Interim) and Mary Barter. There have been many other Directors and Principals including many that were “run out of town” to those who should have been run out of town. As they say, the cream rises to the top as I remember; Walt Jackson, Dennis Simpson, Dan Patterson, Rich Yeager, John Welcher, Bonna Steinle, Kathy Deaderick, Pete Harter, Marci Dennahm, Judy Wilke, Nyla Gruver, Gene Giddings, Norm Higgans, Jean Thweat, Amy Kindorski, Brian Hester, Marc Cooper, John Cordalis, Kristy Rodri, Darlene Wylie and so many others that names do not all come to mind. I am sorry but it would take 10 pages to list everyone; that names above flash back to times remembered for things that had an impact on me.