Tenure and seniority do matter

The impassioned statements about one Whitefish High School teacher peppering the news lately are precisely why tenure and seniority matter. If a teaching job were based solely on vocal popularity, the quality of learning in the classroom would surely be compromised. In this instance, however, I feel proud of the Whitefish School District for continuing to hire the best teachers that can be found.

Did you realize that more than 50 percent of our staff have master’s degrees? One teacher, upon completing his doctoral degree, has even been selected to deliver a collegiate commencement address.

Teachers and administrators have won local, state and national recognition in the last several years, and the school district continues to provide professional training at the state and national levels to keep all teachers at the top of our “game.”

This year alone, three high school students are National Merit finalists, and one is a National Merit Scholar. Five high school seniors earned direct-service military academy appointments, and a long-time community supporter, Ted Lund, awarded the first athletic scholarship in memory of his wife. Our students consistently win state and national art and writing awards.

I can’t believe any student, no matter how sophomoric his or her logic, would honestly suggest that a temporary medical impairment should be cause for termination. Whether a staff member has one year of teaching experience or a career with our community, it is important to recognize that every student feels inspired by at least one teacher.

From the compliments delivered to the board about retiring teacher, Mark Duff, his influence is obvious and palpable. There is no room for competition between classrooms, only a professional atmosphere encouraging all teachers to stay sparked and enthusiastic will facilitate learning every day. How lucky we are to teach among others who have felt this spark for decades.

When I first started my career at Whitefish, I remember being awed by the willingness of other staff members to help me grow the seeds of my ideas. Teachers, administrators and parents volunteered time so students could be excited to explore their own ideas.

Just last week, the eighth-graders enjoyed a state-wide trip with the support of many community members. Whether you subscribed to one of the magazines sold to pay for this “History Trip” or rode in a bus with more than thirty 14-year-olds, community support of our students is at the heart of its success.

This experience continues to be one of the highlights of a Whitefish education, just as it was for teachers who were once students at our school. The age of this idea continues to be “fresh” because professionals continue to address the complexities year-to-year since it is great for kids.

Let’s focus our energy on bragging about the quality of our schools and our students instead of rallying last-ditch efforts to save individual positions.

Dana Carmichael is the librarian at Whitefish Middle School.