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Two District 300 Teachers Retiring

Posted May 21, 2010 11:00 pm

John H. Croessman

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ In Barb Croessman and David Lewis' worlds, a student's glass is always at least half full. That leaves teaching careers of 35 and 33 years respectively to fill the other half with the confidence kids leaving the Du Quoin Middle School and Du Quoin High School need to succeed.

And, they do.

It is in their faces. It is in the gift of a beautiful mug on the very last day from a student who until now had few words to say, but who was learning the whole time.

Each retires this week from Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 and takes with them one seemingly common belief. They were--and are--simply the best. And, for this reason: Evolving education suggests we now teach for the test--for the best score. Barb and David knew how to instead teach for the best outcome. Education isn't "one size fits all."

Their amazing careers were celebrated in words and gifts this week by colleagues throughout the district. The Du Quoin Education Association Wednesday presented each with beautiful hand-crafted rocking chairs. They sat in those chairs and talked about their careers.

For Barb, fourth grade teacher Mrs. Rogers and high school French teacher Mrs. Wingate in the Anna-Jonesboro school system inspired her. ÒI always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Mrs. Wingate took me to France for the first time for a month's study abroad."

David's relationship with the district and teaching nearly 5,000 students over 33 years was part resume and high quality credentials and part divine providence. "The school board had actually hired another math teacher for my job and the teacher quit after six weeks. The board came back and hired me."

Good choice.

David will actually return in the fall to pick up the extra weeks necessary to fill out his retirement requirements.

Superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly presented Barb with a plaque of appreciation at a high school luncheon at DHS Friday. The same will be done mid-year this fall for David during a separate celebration. We will fully chronicle his career then.

Wife Debra Lewis is a florist for Thill's Florist in Du Quoin. The couple has two grown children--Adam Lewis and Tarah (Lewis) Davis and grandchildren.

Raised in the Croessman household were daughter Angela Boyett, a hospital ER nurse and educator and board member for the Prairie Heart STAT heart program who is beginning work on her Masters Degree; Alex, a critical care nursing major; and Andrew, an economics and finance major. There are three grandchildren.

Dr. Kelly writes: "From her time in coming to the District as a Language Arts Teacher at Ward School in 1975, in splitting her duties between the High School and Middle School, to culmination her career in 2010 at the high school level Barb has always been devoted to the students of our school district. Her commitment to being a positive contributor to each school that she has worked in is a paramount cornerstone to her philosophy as a life-long educator. More recently her work in leading high school students to write "student-centered" articles for the Magnavox student newspaper has recaptured the rich tradition associated with one of the oldest high school student newspapers in the state. We appreciate her service to the District and know she wants to assist in continuing the quality of the Magnavox as it celebrates the work and involvement of our high school students."

Barb was a 1971 graduate of the Anna-Jonesboro High School and attended SIU on a teaching scholarship. She was graduated from SIU in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a major in French. Her student teaching assignment was in the Carbondale High School. "Because there was no French taught at the high school, I returned to SIU to obtain my elementary certification (K-8) on the advice of Phillip Provart, the Perry County Superintendent of Schools during that era. She student taught in Murphysboro.

She was hired by the district in 1975 by then-superintendent Dr. Jacob Whitecotton and principal Freddie Banks. "I taught sixth grade in a double classroom with Gail Winthrop, also a first year teacher. Others included Francie Lindner, Paul Miller, Judy Shafer, Darrell Bosecker and Linda Martin."

"After the first year I got my own classroom and taught fifth grade language arts alongside Jacque Siefert, Wilma Brayshaw, Ernie Queen and Debbie Denton."

"I sponsored the sixth grade language arts newspaper and taught French to gifted students. In 1992, Dr. Hippen saw a need for another foreign language instructor at the high school and I started teaching half a day at Ward and the other half at the high school. I moved to DHS first as a traveling teacher from room to room until a portion of the library was made into what is now the French room between Mae Hanna (library) and Doris Rottschalk. I returned to Ward School to teach exploratory French to seventh and eighth graders. Both Spanish instructor Terra Auvil and I did this."

Barb took on two extra-curricular assignments--class sponsor of the DHS Class of 1998 and French Club sponsor. "As class sponsor we won several float competitions and we were able to give each graduate a $100 savings bond." That class not only paid for the prom, but bought all new appliances for the concession stands and had money left over. Her French Club participated in the Holiday Lights Fair competition, attended Foreign Language Day at SIU and saw theater productions at the historic Fox Theatre in St. Louis. She also took several groups to France beginning in 1995 for the same summer independent study that was afforded her as a high school student.

As journalism instructor Barb has given the community one of the finest high school newspapers anywhere in the Midwest. It is co-produced by the journalism laboratory and the Du Quoin Evening Call. She made it truly the "student voice" and students have loved being part of it. That hands-on journalism laboratory will continue. She has also served as vice-president of the Du Quoin Education Association for the past two years.

She is a gifted pianist and organist--all part of a life well-lived, giving her all in a world where many give only some.

The same is very true for David Lewis. While shouldering a very full academic responsibility, he found time after hours to coordinate the local UNICEF (United Nationals International Children's Emergency Fund). He established routes throughout Du Quoin for children to canvas with their orange and black UNICF boxes. He created an army of children helping children. To this day, the estimated $25,000 the project raised by kids helping kids is a model for charitable giving everywhere.

His entire teaching career has been devoted to eighth grade math, an all-important life skill.

He had a chance to follow the footsteps of education legends like Ruth Gunter, Myra Born, Nancy Gross and George Burson, whom he talks about with great respect. For a full two-thirds of his career he has been a coach in boys' track and girls' basketball. He headed the social studies club.

"This job and these people have been my second family," he said. "I love being around these people," he said.

David and Debra are role models in both their faith and in our schools. In fact, the couple plans to begin its summer with a couple of mission trips.

On the eve of this weekend's commencement ceremonies for both the Du Quoin Middle School and the Du Quoin High School, the community owes these retirees its all.

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