The influence of a teacher is far-reaching with their students. Administrators can also have an extended impact. There is some debate about whether an administrator’s effects are positive or negative. I have been fortunate to work with some excellent administrators. There is one that stands head and shoulders above the others. Dr. Dave Hartenbach was the second superintendent of my career. The first was Vic Ross and there is at least one story about him later. Dr. Hartenbach knew everyone in the district. If you worked in the district for more than a few months he knew who you were and what you did. He was also genuinely a kind man with a good heart and a love for education. I work with him on the Long Range Facilities Advisory Committee besides some ad hoc circumstances. I can only wish everyone has at least one superintendent like him. There is a story that highlights his character and personality.
Being on the science curriculum team for elementary required hard work but also a lot of organizing. One day we were in the district curriculum warehouse that was in Highline A downstairs from the instructional directors. We were reviewing some materials and Dr. Hartenbach was there for another reason. While we were reviewing things I saw a long slender box. I looked inside and pulled out an old blackboard pointer with the rubber tip. I was joking with the other people in the group about the fact that the only reason I became a teacher was so that I could have my own pointer. I put it away, we laughed and I didn’t think about it again. About a week later the school secretary called me down to the office because I had something that came in interschool mail. When I got down to the office I found 2 pointers and a note. Dr. Hartenbach wrote that it was important for the district to provide the vital tools a teacher needed. He kidded me about those pointers even after he retired. Another nice gesture was that he was changing chairs in his office from around the conference table and offered me one of the old ones. I have had that chair for over 25 years. I finally gave it away this year but I will never forget the man that gave it to me. I have always tried to teach in such a way that he would be proud. I don’t know that I have done it every day but I have tried.