Secretary's Column
By Dr. Rick Melmer
Department of Education
Darrell, Dennis and Gordie
When our kids were young, we used to
take them bowling at the local bowling alley. In order to
enhance their scores, we would always ask for the bumpers to
be put up along the sides of the alleys so that we could
avoid gutter balls. Even though I always said it was for the
kids, the truth is: My score was enhanced as a result of the
bumpers as well! As I reflect on my professional life, I am
thankful for those people who have been “bumpers” in my
life. They have helped me stay out of the gutter and focus
on the things that are really important in my work.
This column highlights three of those
special individuals who have helped me throughout my
professional career.
Darrell
I worked on my master’s degree at South
Dakota State University. During that time, Dr. Darrell
Jensen was the education dean and also taught a leadership
class. I can remember very clearly that I entered the
program unsure of my abilities as a teacher and potential
administrator. Through Darrell’s encouragement and support,
and the support of many other faculty members at SDSU, I
left convinced that I could be a successful school
administrator.
Many of Darrell’s lectures were revelations to me. He
reminded all of us that “God didn’t make junk.” He
consistently talked about the abilities of people and
reminded us that an approach to leadership where you believe
in people and their abilities would be much more successful
than an approach where people needed to be watched and
monitored constantly. Darrell also was an advocate of the
Japanese style of management, which emphasized the
importance of teamwork and delegation. Finally, Darrell
encouraged us to pursue our strengths and compensate for our
weaknesses. I honestly believe that I would not have pursued
school administration without the encouragement and support
of Dr. Darrell Jensen.
Dennis
My first elementary principal position
was in Mitchell, S.D., and I worked for Dr. Dennis Peterson.
Dennis had a tremendous influence in my life. As I worked
for him for three years in Mitchell and an additional three
years in Cheyenne, Wyo., I will always remember Dennis for
his never-ending passion for education. He taught me to
focus on students in all decisions. He also challenged me to
hire and keep the very best teachers in my school. Finally,
Dennis found a way to resist the political winds and always
do what was fundamentally right within his school district.
He had a vision for the future that was impressive and
accurate. His determination and dedication to provide the
best educational program for the students of his school
district were something I will never forget.
Gordie
I earned my bachelor’s degree from
Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. I chose Dakota
Wesleyan because I had hoped to play college basketball.
Once I arrived on campus, the coach, Gordie Fosness, gently
explained to me that I didn’t have what it took to play at
that level. Even though we parted ways on the basketball
court, I fell in love with his oldest daughter and he became
my father-in-law in 1983. Since that time, Gordie has been a
constant source of encouragement for me. In spite of my limitations, he
continues to encourage me professionally,
spiritually and personally. His unconditional love has been
a tremendous blessing to me and has helped me gain
confidence in my work.
My guess is that you have a few
“bumpers” that have helped you stay on track during your
professional career as well. My hope is that you take some
time to thank them for their encouragement and support.
Secondly, as I get older, I have realized it is time for me
to begin investing in younger people as well. Darrell,
Dennis and Gordie invested in younger people to make our
world a better place. All of us are called to do the same.
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