The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

"If I could convey anything to your readership, we are in need of good people. It's a positive place to be. It's a really encouraging and positive place for kids. We do a lot of excellent things for kids. And I don't know any other profession where you can say and do that daily. So we need good people. And I know they're out there. And I'd love to talk to people about how we can partner with them, turn them loose, and empower them to pay it forward because there's a lot of joy in that."

Dan invited me to lunch at the high school, and I was pleased with the lunch the "lunch ladies" provided! Afterward, I visited with Dan Schrock, Big Sandy School's superintendent, about this year's school year. Visiting with anyone who is so optimistic about the kids is always good. "I am so proud. I get emotional about these kinds of things because it's my life's work. Yeah. You know, it's not just a profession. It's a vocation. I'm so proud of our kids. The worst thing I can say about our senior class is I've only known them for a year. These kids are great role models to our school's younger kids."

"There were new things this year; you look back to the fall and Halloween festivities. We had Brad Weaver's wagon for the kids going to the store. You know, Deb being supportive, Ronnie being supportive. The football team and all the old-timers in the coffee groups showed up with their side-by-side to clean the snow. They did a great job. I didn't anticipate that, you know, when you start somewhere, you don't know how this will get done. It was really just refreshing to come to a small town in rural Montana and experience that kind of support for these kids and the staff."

"I speak to the support of the community. It was a retired community member (Marla Ray) who had a heart for our school that came back into the fold to help our kids. That's the biggest sacrifice for that individual and their family farm. So I'm very appreciative of that. And the things we've been able to do, that individuals have been able to do, it's been nothing short of remarkable. You know, the rouser, the skits, just that positive energy."

"That is really encouraging positive, you know, the community support like with Chauvets wanting to honor their family's history here as Pioneers in our school district by fixing the Pioneer Square in front of the school."

He generally talked about the teachers, saying, "That's a credit to them, their heart for kids, and their place in this profession. I can speak very highly of the art teacher, Jesse Jaramillo. The things that she did with the student council were getting our older kids involved as leaders in our school community, directly mentoring and helping our younger kids. I mean, that's just, that's ideal. She's been great. I really like the high school's relationship with the grade school this year. I think it's been a little bit more focused and intentional."

He asked me if I was coming to the music concert. " The music kids have done so well."

"And when you look at everything our kids are involved in, just the totality of it between concessions, music, athletics, and FFA. I'm just so proud of them."

"I'll check periodically when the students leave on the bus; I've said this for years, you know, when you leave our community, make great memories and have fun. Encourage and support each other but realize that you are not only representing yourself, but you're representing your family, our school, in this community, and so do so with class. And they have done so. The kids have made this community proud."

"I mean, I could do this job just sitting in here in my office, but there's no joy in that for me, you know, my strengths are interacting with the kids and trying to encourage them and support them directly. And not only kids but staff as well. Kids sometimes do struggle. Diana Kane is incredibly talented; we're lucky to have her."

They had two interviews for grade school last week. One was for a Title One, and the library position, and the other would be just an elementary position. "We'll be recruiting for a fifth-grade teacher and continually trying to recruit special education teachers."

While I was interviewing him, a special needs student came to his door looking in. He wanted to sit in Dan's chair. "It's something he likes to do regularly." Dan said, "That's a really cool thing about our school. And our reality. Everybody matters. It doesn't matter your strengths, your weaknesses."

"I always say it's not where you're at; it's where you're going. And we had a great year; I sincerely hope and pray that, as things go on, we have some significant needs, but the community will step up."

"We have a tremendous amount of pride, Pioneer pride for our kids, their futures, the importance of this time of their life, and the preparation for their future success."