By Daniel McGonigle
Argus Managing Editor
After 40 years as an educator, coach, mentor, colleague and friend, Ken Van DenBoom is calling it a career at Caledonia Area Schools. The science teacher reports there are several things he is going to miss about being a teacher.
“But the thing I’ll miss the most is seeing the light come on in a student when you know something you are trying to teach them is finally getting through and they begin to understand,” he said. “Of course I’ll miss my colleagues and the people I work with too.”
Van Den Boom remained in the profession well beyond when he could have retired because of his love for what he was doing.
“I love my job,” he said. “And all of the fun things I was allowed to do. We got to do science experiments and my classes had many ‘hands on’ activities.”
Van Den Boom isn’t just retiring as a teacher. He has been a coach of many various sports over his time with the school and has also served as the athletic director for the past nearly two decades.
“The AD was the most challenging of my three jobs,” said Van Den Boom. “The experiences are so diverse, between dealing with the kids, parents and coaches. You tried to get all three to an acceptable level but that was the biggest challenge. You want every kid to have a good experience in sports, and not every kid is going to every time. That makes it hard. You want to see them happy and doing well.”
In the beginning
Van Den Boom didn’t come to Caledonia with any grand plan for staying.
In fact, “back in those days science teachers moved around a lot,” he recalled. “But it is just such a wonderful community to be a part of and I am thankful they allowed me to stay all of these years and raise my children here.”
In fact those children, who have since had children of their own, are one of the big things Van Den Boom will be spending his time doing after retirement. He also plans to do some fishing and the only golf coach that the girls golf program at Caledonia has ever know, also plans on doing some golfing with his spare time.
In fact, he is resigning from all three of his positions, but hopes to be re-hired as coach of the girls golf team.
“That is something I’d still like to do for a few years,” he said.
“He’s had a long and distinguished career with us and we’ll certainly miss him,” said Caledonia Superintendent Mike Moriarty. “He is an excellent, excellent science teacher. He has given a lot to the district.”
So many to thank
Forty-years in any position means that you have had your life touched by a lot of people, and have subsequently touched many peoples lives as well. Van Den Boom thanked the administrations and the various boards he’s worked with over his time at the district. He also thanked Cindy Frank who worked so closely with him for many years in his athletic director capacity and he notes did “such a wonderful job for me.” He also thanked the many students who had come through the doors and noted that he can’t remember too many problems with students. And he thanked the community of Caledonia.
“For their continued support of education,” he said. “When they voted on the levy override the community showed their continued support of education and I just wanted them to know as an educator it is very much appreciated.”
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