The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

From School to School, Great Happenings

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher-Owner

26 May 2005

Having attended many graduations and lots of events at Southern, Union, and La Harpe for several years, I have had more opportunities to compare the three schools in our area than the average person.

I have talked with teachers, administrators, school board members, parents, and especially students from each school district and I can attest that each school has good quality people in them.

I am always overwhelmed when I call or go into the secretary's office of Claudia Apt in La Harpe, who so kindly meets the needs of so many other people besides the principal. She and her husband will be missed as they retire this year. Charlie's strong leadership as high school principal comes with a lot of loyalty for his school, his students, and for La Harpe. I've seen the same caring leaders as Southern's Principal Dale Buss helps the teachers and parents and students at Southern.

Superintendent Dean Irlbeck is one of many good leaders at Union. He is a loyalist to education, to teachers, and to building character in students of his district. This is just a few of many wonderful staff of the three districts who do an outstanding job with our kids;

whether in art, music, science, math, language, history, foreign language, business classes, etc., all have helped mold many great students. The combining of any of these school districts, would be a good thing.

If you think other districts may have troubled kids, you'll find all experience it. It happens in the best of families and the best of schools. One grad said, "Failure isn't the problem as much as failing to learn from mistakes."

The good leaders I've seen in all three districts have helped students who fail get back on their feet.