Page 11 - Flathead Beacon // 6.15.16

NEWS
Paul Jenkins, superintendent of the Somers-Lakeside school district. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Lakeside-Somers Superintendent Retires After
30 Years as Montana Educator Several longtime educators retire after another academic year
What does it mean to you?
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
SOMERS — After three decades in education in Montana, Paul Jenkins has learned a few strategies for mentoring and teaching young students.
When one student de antly called the superintendent in the Somers-Lakeside school district by his rst name, Jen- kins turned the tables by referring to the student as “Mr. Wilson.” When another student claimed once he was treated unfairly, Jenkins sat him down, listened to his story and admitted the young boy was right.
“When I have to draw a line, I can draw a line and they know it. But really it’s about laughing with them, giving them validation and sitting down and listen- ing to them. You need to listen,” he said recently from inside his small o ce in Somers Middle School.
Last week, after watching another eighth-grade class graduate and move on to high school, Jenkins himself bowed out. The 64-year-old has retired as superintendent of the Somers-Lake- side district. Dan Burkhart is replacing Jenkins this month.
Jenkins is among another class of long- time educators bidding farewell to the local classrooms and schools this spring. In Kalispell, seven sta members with a combined 218 years of service in the edu- cation eld retired. The teachers were Allen Slater, band director at Flathead High School with 37 years experience; Bonnie Streeter, a botany and earth sci- ence teacher at Glacier High School with 33 years experience; Dee Manning, a sec- ond grade teacher at Elrod with 32 years experience; Marilyn Kirack, a para-edu- cator at Hedges with 32 years experience; Sue Hanson, speech and language pathol- ogist at Russell with 30 years experience; Duane Thramer, a custodian at Kalispell Middle School with 28 years experience; and Linda Pensa, a librarian at Russell with 26 years experience.
“That people served our schools for over 25 years shows a deep loyalty to education and to the area. It’s remarkable to have that over 154 years of combined service,” said Kalispell Superintendent Mark Flatau.
Jenkins is retiring after 39 years as an educator, including 30 in Montana. He moved here from Massachusetts in
search of better skiing and landed a job as a principal in Absarokee. After that he moved west and took a job in Helena Flats, where he worked for 20 years, fol- lowed by a three-year stint in Charlo before coming to Lakeside-Somers.
Working in rural school districts has had its challenges, primarily juggling budget needs without spiking property taxes and the constant competition with larger urban school districts that boast bigger and some- times better education programs.
But Jenkins has remained passionate about rural schools because they have o ered a small, intimate learning envi- ronment for kids.
“I’ve been fortunate to be in schools where I really get to mingle with the kids,” he said.
The role of an educator in a rural dis- trict is constantly evolving with more responsibilities, Jenkins said, but inev- itably it is some of the most rewarding work available.
Having accomplished a meaningful career, Jenkins is eager to enjoy more of that powder skiing he came to Montana chasing.
dtabish@ atheadbeacon.com
www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
JUNE 15, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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