Class of 1960 Aces With Careers in Education

The Influence of Great Teachers is Never Erased

More than 40 embers of the Class of 1960 have worked in education at all levels from pre-school to graduate school. Some of us taught in public schools, some in private, and others delivered instruction as informal educators in their homes or youth programs. In addition to teachers, however, schools also depend on administrators, food service workers, custodians, governing board members, advocates,  volunteers and philanthropists. Our classmates have served schools in all of these roles and more.

The list below has been updated nine times, but is still incomplete. We hope that you will send additional names of classmates who worked in education. More stories about their experiences, adding to the short descriptions here, are linked to this story or will be published here soon.  For Deceased Classmates, the information was drawn from obituaries on the Remembrances pages. Click on the underlined, highlighted names to read more.

Heidi Billinger Cook, 1942-2015 – Heidi taught for 20 years in the Richardson, Texas, Independent School District.

 

 

 

Gary Byrd, 1942-1966 – A graduate of Harvard, Gary was pursuing a graduate degree in English at WSU and teaching English to undergrads when he died in 1966. Known in high school for his extraordinary ability in math and science, Gary discovered a love of English and taught at WSU.

Gene Carter – Gene earned his PhD at Carnegie Tech and then worked as a junior faculty member at Harvard and MIT. He taught as a professor and Chairman of the Finance Department at U of I at Chicago and as professor and then Dean of the College of Business Administration at the U of Maryland, College Park. An expert in corporate finance, Gene also co-authored the leading textbook on international finance with his wife Rita Rodriquez. Through the E.E. Carter Foundation, Gene funds more than a dozen university scholarships in honor of family members and friends. The Carter Opportunity Awards support Latina, immigrant, or other first-generation-to-college female students in public university schools of engineering. So far, 170 Carter Opportunity Scholars have graduated with engineering degrees from 20 universities and many more are in the program.

Janice Collins Bailey – Janice began teaching as a Senior Girl Scout, volunteering at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita. She went on to teach in early childhood programs – preschool, kindergarten, and early grades – in the Wichita area, at KSU in the lab school, at Lynchburg Virginia Community College, and as head teacher in a child care center in Emporia. Her daughter and granddaughter are both teachers in Wichita.

Sharon Cone Neal, 1942-1995 – Sharon worked in education most of her adult life. She was a Wichita Federation of Teachers union representative.

 

 

Jan Corzatt, 1942-2011 – Jan was a beloved teacher in the Wichita School District for 38 years. She was also known as an effective union representative, who often participated in contract negotiations. 

Jane Darrah Gates, 1942-2020 – After graduating from  University of Kansas, Jane headed to California to begin her 20-year career in Elementary Education, teaching and mentoring first, second, and third graders. After some time off to raise her children, Jane went back to the classroom at St. Michael’s and then Country Day Elementary Schools in Sacramento. Describing Jane as a disciplined, organized, book-loving Mary Poppins, her students continued to track down one of their favorite teachers, Mrs. Gates, many years after she retired. 

Fred Elder – Fred earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He taught engineering classes at Wichita State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison as well as safety classes for the OSHA Training Institute outside of Chicago.  Since retiring, he has continued to teach in- person and online courses in professional development and safety practices for working engineers. 

Fred Fairbanks, 1942-1999 – After an accident left Fred a quadriplegic at age 19, painting became an important therapeutic activity. Fred studied journalism and had a 10-year career as a news assignment editor at a Minneapolis TV station. He moved to Bonita, CA in 1972 and earned a master’s degree in art history from San Diego State. He later taught at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, lecturing on art history and anthropology. He exhibited his own artwork throughout the region and taught painting informally to adults and children. He was best known for his advocacy for the disabled and for an annual arts festival, Bonitafest, which he started and led each year.

Marilyn Fletcher Verdier, 1942-1996 – An exceptionally talented violinist, Marilyn taught violin throughout her adult life, along with playing the violin professionally with many orchestras and ensembles.

Gerald Fry – Gerry earned his PhD in international development education at Stanford University. After teaching preschool in Hawaii and university students in Thailand as part of his Peace Corps service, Gerry taught at Stanford and lectured at the U. of Oregon until moving to Oregon full-time for 20 years as a political science professor teaching international and Asian studies. At various times, he also taught English to Buddhist monks preparing to visit India as well as business, comparative politics, human development, and education courses in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, and Vietnam. From 2000 until the present, he has been teaching at the University of Minnesota while continuing to travel and teach internationally. His current research focuses on mitigating the aging process.

Nancy Fulton Ingle – After studying Latin, French, and Spanish at East High, Nancy majored in Foreign Languages/Humanities at K-State. She taught Spanish in Florida public schools on a temporary certificate and then participated in a University of Florida program that paid her salary and tuition while she earned a permanent teaching certificate, a Master’s degree, and a summer in Mexico for Spanish language immersion. Following time out to raise two children, Nancy taught in private and public schools. Travel to Spanish-speaking countries counted toward required professional development credit, so she happily participated in federally-sponsored trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Spain. 

Jane Glotfelty Rhodes – Jane earned degrees in history and theater. At Wichita State University, she was coordinator of the Reading and Study Skills Center, where she worked for more than 40 years helping WSU students succeed by strengthening their reading and study skills.  Described by WSU as a “consummate researcher, writer, and teacher, ” Jane was honored by the university as a WSU Heroine. She also received the 2009 Kansas  Notable Book Award for her book, Kansas Opera Houses, Actors and Community Events. 

Jack Graham, 1942-2015 –  Jack earned a master’s degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Texas in 1968. For his entire career, Jack was Clarinet Professor at the University of Northern Iowa, retiring in 2003 after 35 years. He then performed as a clarinet soloist and ensemble player across the country. In retirement, he continued to teach for the UNI Music School and also taught for the music department at Wartburg College. Jack inspired many students, colleagues, and fellow artists with his knowledge and quintessential musicianship.

Jim Lankford – After completing his Masters and Ph.D. in Audiology at the University of Oklahoma, Jim accepted a position at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He taught audiology students at NIU for 31 years, including 10 years as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. With his leadership, the Audiology Department hired eminent faculty and earned a national reputation for innovation and the highest quality programs. Jim also helped to build NIU’s highly-regarded Speech and Hearing Clinic, a regional resource for children and adults with speech and hearing problems. His principle research interest has been prevention of noise-induced hearing loss and he has worked with the farming community for 18 years with this primary focus. He is presently engaged in research investigating impulse noise exposure from recreational firearms. Since retiring, Jim has served as a Deacon at his church, teaching Bible classes, preaching occasionally, and leading singing. 

Mary Lohrenz Fox, 1942-2020 – After graduating from Grinnell College, Mary taught in elementary and middle schools.  Years later, she earned a Masters  of Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University. She then worked as Head Reference Librarian in the Public Library in Darien, CT, a true testament to her love of reading and desire to serve other learners. In a Remembrance, David Kroenlein commented, ” Mary was much admired in the Darien, CT Library community, where she was the head reference librarian.  Not surprisingly, the personality of the Darien Library is consistent with Mary’s – highly professional, very welcoming.”

 

Kathy Knee, 1942-2022 – Kathy taught vocal music in Wichita for more than 30 years, mostly in intermediate schools. A leading soprano at East High, she continued to perform frequently, both as a soloist and as a member of various choral groups. She was remembered with great fondness by her students.

Sara “Sally” Martin Sheffield – Sara and her husband moved to Nova Scotia during the Vietnam War. She worked as a high school librarian, while her husband taught English. Now retired, Sara has built beautiful gardens that attract tourists to Nova Scotia. She always continues making art and shows her work in local galleries.

Gayle McCune Ganger – After attending College of Emporia, Gayle went to Albuquerque , NM, where she earned a Masters in Education. She married and later moved to Japan for three years.  Following that, she lived and taught in Los Alamos, NM; Richmond, WA; Colorado; and Hawaii.  She worked in education at all levels from kindergarten through graduate students. She was also a Christian Education director. 

 

 

David Melby, 1942-2014 – An accomplished painter who was famous for his landscapes, David had a career in teaching at Iowa State University, the  Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, the Kansas City Art Institute, Rockhurst College, the U.S. Federal Penitentiary, and St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth. He taught workshops throughout the U.S., often in places where his highly-collectible landscapes were appearing in an exhibition. Samples of David’s landscapes are included in the David Melby Gallery on this website.

Vesta Patterson Lee – Glenna Park has asked Vesta’s husband Bob to supply details about Vesta’s teaching experience. In the meantime, Glenna had this to say: “I remember Vesta telling me that she had been a teacher, and we really laughed a lot about the two of us entering that field of work.  I told Vesta that I always considered her one of the ring-tailed rascals of our class and thought it was highly improbable that either one of us would ever be a teacher.  I felt the same about Jane Darrah!  My guess is that we figured we knew all the tricks, so why not teach?”

Ed Pearson – When Ed was hired as a faculty member at Friends University in 2002, he had previously served as a marine, acted as a government investigator, and worked as a homicide detective in Brooklyn. With this experience, a JD from law school, and a master’s degree in Management Information Systems, he taught law, business, and technology courses in three different colleges at Friends. He was honored for guiding and inspiring many Friends University students and for his social justice work in the community,  He went on to earn a doctor of divinity degree and to serve as an ordained Baptist minister.

 

Perry Ann Porter – Perry Ann was an education major at WSU, where she earned her graduate degree in educational  administration.  A recruiter from California interviewed her there for job possibilities in California, one of which she took and lived near the water as recommended by her father.  Perry was an elementary teacher for eight years, then served in the Peace Corps seven years and lived in Belize, Jamaica, Bolivia and the Philippines. She also worked as a substitute teacher in high schools for 25 years.

Calvin Ross – Calvin earned Masters degrees in Divinity and in Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. After a Pastoral Counseling and Ethics residency in the Psychiatry Department of the U of Louisville Medical School, he joined the faculty at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, TN, in Pastoral Theology, also serving there as Academic Dean. As Senior Chaplain and Biomedical Ethicist for a network of 21 hospitals, he taught students who provided pastoral care for patients and families in times of suffering, fear, loss, and spiritual search. He also trained medical teams as ethics consultants in complicated cases. Calvin and his wife Nancy, who taught at Milligan U, have endowed a biennial Lectureship in Pastoral Care at Emmanuel for seminarians, pastors, physicians, and other health care students and practitioners. 

Jim Sharp – After college, Jim returned to East High to teach in the Vocational Education program. At that time, Vo-Tech was a magnet program, drawing students from across Wichita to its high quality vocational and industrial arts courses and labs. Jim developed Plastics courses, an innovation for high schools. His students went on to lucrative positions in the automotive industry and high precision manufacturing firms. Eventually, Jim left East High for a job in industry. The school was unfortunately not able to hire another qualified instructor to sustain the plastics program.

 

Marla Skiles Shwiethale, 1942-2020 – Marla worked as a stay-at-home mom to four children as well as a secretary. Eventually, she decided to commit herself full-time to teaching piano. She dedicated 43 years to teaching piano lessons to many children and adults.

 

Debbie Snyder Tucker – Debbie received her BA in Speech Therapy and Elementary Education at Wichita U, now WSU, and her Masters in Education in 1970 from Southwest Texas U, now Texas State in San Marcos. She received her Speech Therapy training at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita, Kansas, now called Heartspring. Debbie married in 1964 and moved to Texas where she started her teaching career in Speech Therapy and Special Education. She taught from 1964 to 2007, 43 years. Her experience included the public school system, private speech therapy and home health for adults. Debbie remarked that her career as a Speech Therapist was VERY rewarding!

Linda Soderberg McKay – Having acquired exceptional leadership skills as a community volunteer, Linda emerged as a national leader in an education reform movement that became her passion:  creating character education in our schools by teaching core ethical values such as honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect for self and others.  She served on the Board of Character.org, a national advocacy organization  supporting the importance of character development.  Appointed as an Senior Advisor in the Department of Education during the Bush administration, Linda also worked with Members of Congress and leaders in many states during the Clinton and Obama administrations. She saw character education adopted along with social and emotional skills in schools across the nation.

Glenna Stearman Park – Glenna has created, exhibited and performed art in a variety of media while teaching students from pre-school to grad school in the U.S. and international settings. After completing her MFA at UC San Diego, she moved with her family to Texas, where she taught community college students, inmates at Bexar County Jail, and private school grades 1-12.  Awards and foundation funding supported exhibitions and classes in Brazil, Italy, France, Portugal, and in the U.S. In Korea, she taught English, literature and religion. After returning, she taught art seminars, writing, and art history at the Memphis College of Art.  Later, she engaged students from ages 3 to 14 in the Washington, DC area in highly creative arts activities. 

Rex Patrick Stevens – After earning his PhD in philosophy at Washington U, Rex taught Philosophy at Mercer University before becoming Academic Vice-President. An academic vice-president is responsible for ensuring the quality of all academic departments, programs, and services, including directing appropriations and allocations of resources, hiring and evaluation, and coordination of policies and priorities. Rex served in this top administrative position at four institutions, retiring in 2014 from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, “the best place I ever worked.” Rex as Academic VP and college president Wendy Libby together were credited with a transformational impact at Stephens.

Gerald Stuckey, 1942-2021 – Gerry retired from the Wichita School District as a school site custodian. Known for his handyman skills and eagerness to help, he was a valued member of the school staff.

 

 

 

Mike Tearney – After graduating from WSU, Mike moved to Columbia and the U. of Missouri, where he earned a doctorate in accounting. He taught at Drake University in Iowa and then went to New York City to work for KPMG, one of the world’s largest audit, tax, and advising firms. Mike says, “It was nice, but I hated the commute. My wife Barbara Kopietz and I returned to academe at the University of Kentucky, where we have been since 1983.”

Jane Thompson Olson – Jane began teaching in 1964 near Lawrence, KS. The 4th grade had only 17 students, something she didn’t see for the rest of her 26 year teaching career since most class sizes were 25 or more. Jane taught in Kansas, Georgia, Wisconsin and North Carolina. Her favorite grade was 5th, but she also spent three years teaching 6th grade language arts. Jane finished her teaching career as a member of the instructional resource team that worked directly for the superintendent in Raleigh, NC. Jane loved working with children and nothing made her happier than when she saw that “light bulb” go on in a student’s mind. “I got it!”

Marilyn Tompkins Bellert – Marilyn taught high school English and earned an MA in English at Washington U. As a community volunteer, she gravitated to education policy and served 22 years in fascinating if thankless public service in elected and appointed positions on the local high school board, the National Assessment Governing Board, and the Illinois State Board of Education. At Florida International U and Northern Illinois U, she managed off-campus community programs. She retired in 2018 from NIU, where she had established a regional organization for school-university partnerships and STEAM education (multi-disciplinary applications of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). 

Donna Unruh Hoberecht –  Initially, Donna taught algebra and geometry to 8th and 9th graders in Bellevue, WA. While raising her family, she began providing “math enrichment” for second graders at the local elementary, a program praised by teachers that eventually served all six grade levels. She later joined a nearby school district as a math assistant for 18 years, helping students who had difficulties with math. Always a volunteer at her children’s schools, Donna served as a PTA treasurer nearly every year and co-chaired a Noontime Enrichment Program that was very popular with students and teachers.

John Van Slyke – After completing his service in the U.S. Navy, John earned an MBA at Harvard Business School (HBS) and then went to work developing his own businesses. In 1982, he returned to HBS to help launch an entrepreneurial education program. Creating new courses from whole cloth, John taught Starting New Businesses and Field Studies in Entrepreneurial Management and other courses during his five years of teaching at Harvard. Entrepreneurial Management became a department at HBS and its core course is now required for all MBA students. John was gratified at being able to give back to HBS and Harvard, which he says were fundamentally important in his life, by helping to revolutionize teaching and research in entrepreneurship.

Kent Vickery, 1942-2011 – Kent earned his PhD from Indiana University in Anthropology/Archaeology, where he specialized in Ohio Valley archaeology. He taught at the University of Cincinnati in the Anthropology Department for almost 34 years. In addition to extensive scholarly publications about the indigenous population of Ohio and training a generation of graduate student anthropologists and archaeologists, he was well-known for his advocacy of citizen engagement in science. He organized weekend and summer programs that involved children and adults in archaeological research.

 

Gerald Walters, 1941-2005 – Gerry retired from the Los Angeles School District, where he managed the Nutrition System Department. The second largest school district in the U.S., Los Angeles employs a very large workforce to direct operations; purchase, store, and distribute food and food preparation equipment; deliver nutritious food to students, after school and at lunch time; and clean up afterward.  

M. Douglas Walton– After earning degrees in architecture at Oklahoma State, Doug Walton worked for architecture firms in Louisiana. By 1972, he was an associate professor of architecture at Louisiana Tech University, where he taught architecture and water-color painting. Since then, he has mounted hundreds of exhibitions and led countless workshops and classes about painting and the arts in general. He has taught throughout the U.S. and in countries around the world, including Dubai, South Africa, India, Morocco, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Guatemala, Peru, China, and Europe. He has produced a prodigious quantity of collectible art in a variety of media.

Carolyn Wharton Holloway –  Carolyn continued her education, earning BSE, MSE, and EDD degees from KU with majors  in English Concentration, Communications and Leadership and at Oxford University, Exeter College Area of Study in Culture, Literature, and History.   Her career in public schools included teaching in junior high, high school, and college plus positions as district coordinator and superintendent. She also worked nationwide as a consultant in leadership and building community consensus on urgent issues. Carolyn emphasizes that her students taught her to listen and to learn from them, so her most important degree is LIFE!