The Master

Steve Dearing is a perfectionist, and a master craftsman.

Steve taught Woodworking at DeLaSalle in the early 1990s.

He was great with our students, and taught them the finer details of woodworking as well as how to also craft their lives.

While at DeLaSalle, Steve met his future wife, Melanie Schreiber, one of our outstanding teachers.

I caught up today with Steve, and learned that Melanie is still home schooling the last of their five children. Steve is still in the woodworking business, and concentrating on adding fine wood finishes to homes in Kansas City.

Steve is as passionate as ever about helping others. He is a youth minister in his church, and still wants to change the world. Blessings, Steve and Melanie!

DeLaSalle to Operate a Charter School!

DeLaSalle's application to operate a charter school for the 2010-11 school year was found to be in full compliance with state law today after final review by the Missouri State Board of Education.

The Charter is being sponsored by UMKC, represented by Dr. Steve McClure (right in photo at left). Joining Steve and me after the historic vote was the State Director of Charter Schools, Jocelyn Strand.

We are thrilled with this outstanding accomplishment!

House for Sale

Two days ago, we listed for sale the house we have lived in for over 22 years.

When we moved here in 1987, the house was just big enough for our four children and two dogs.

Now, our children are gone and Karol and I have too much room for just us and two different dogs.

If you're interested, it's in a great neighborhood and close to three parks.

We leave behind a lot of memories.

Announcement of New DLS Executive Director

DeLaSalle Board President, Gary Ballard (standing in picture at left), announced the selection today of the new Executive Director of DeLaSalle Education Center.
The announcement will be announced to the public in a few more days. I'll try to give you a sneak preview in advance of that announcement!
I'm very excited with the selection, and look forward to preparing for the transition which will begin on June 14, 2010. Following a week of meetings with the new director, I will transition to my new duties as Director of Sustainability on June 21, 2010.
Stay tuned for more information soon!

My New Barber

You may have noticed my new haircut in recent photos of me on this Blog.

That haircut was given me by DeLaSalle graduate, Tiffany Jones, class of 1996, who works at a new barbershop at 3402 Troost, called Barbershop 67, owned by Craig Carlock.

In the photo at left, Tiffany is cutting the hair of a customer. Good work, Tiffany!

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Capital Campaign Progress!

The DeLaSalle Capital Campaign is making great fundraising progress!
Campaign Chairman, Charlie Schellhorn (left in photo at left) met recently with former DeLaSalle Board President, Tom Deacy (center) and me to plan spring fundraising calls for the campaign.

Our First Middle School

In 1995, DeLaSalle established a middle school serving students within a consortium of nine suburban public school districts.

The New Learning Community School (NCLS) achieved outstanding success under DeLaSalle's management. NCLS was one of seventy (70) alternative schools established locally and nationally by DeLaSalle from 1990 to 1995.

DeLaSalle ran another middle school from 2000 to 2006 under a contract with the Kansas City School District.

Hopefully, DeLaSalle will be able to establish someday its own middle school, as the middle school years are the period when many students begin to lose interest in school, and become vulnerable to school failure.

Colloquium!!

For our 25th Anniversary in May 1997, DeLaSalle sponsored an educational colloquium at the Westin Crown Center.

Seated behind me at the two tables were PBS radio personality, Ray Suarez, Marva Collins, the founder of the famous Westside Preparatory School in Chicago, Professor Henry Levin of Stanford University, and Professor Howard Fuller, former superintendent of the Milwaukee Public Schools and current Director of the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University.

It was an outstanding anniversary for DeLaSalle and a memorable event for the community!

A Big Event for DeLaSalle!

Before there was a DeLaSalle Movie Benefit (now in its 20th year!)....

... and after the 1988 KC Chiefs' Football Benefit Game for DeLaSalle...

...and after the infamous and uproariously fun DeLaSalle Hall of Strain Sports' Roast events (1983-1987)...

... there were two DeLaSalle "Meet America's Best" Dinners.

The first one, in 1988, featured a number of Olympian gold medal winners from the 1988 World Olympics...

...and the second featured basketball superstar, Julius ("Dr. J") Erving. (Erving also returned to speak at DeLaSalle in 1993.)

These events and benefits for DeLaSalle have played a foundational role in the development of our public and internal image of offering success to all of our students!

DeLaSalle "Fine Woods"

One of our more successful classes over the years at DeLaSalle has been our Woodworking Program.
In the mid-1990s, this program even developed a line of fine furniture for sale to the general public. In fact, Sutherland's Lumber Company featured one of our unique bookcases for sale in a number of their local and national stores.

A Younger Trio

Yes, that's me to the left, along with then-Board President, Tim Clemons, and Board member Page Branton Reed. I'm guessing that this photo is from 1989. We look very distinguished, don't we?!

Visit to Electric Car Class

While I am not a "car buff", I know a great class when I see one in action.

The DeLaSalle Electric Car Class meets on Saturday mornings, and there were five DeLaSalle students in class this morning. Each of these five students was deeply engaged in their class work.

Kelvin, Chan, Mario, Andrew and Kevon were working on clay models of their car. This will assist them in developing the shell of the full size car that they will be creating in the next seven weeks.

There were seven adult mentors working alongside the students this morning. What a great class!

Surrounded by Angels - Part Three

At the DeLaSalle Blood Drive on Thursday, March 11, 2010, I was treated by two nurses who had both attended DeLaSalle.
Directly behind me is Brandy Cooper,a 1996 graduate of DeLaSalle. Brandy received a scholarship to Penn Valley Community College and graduated from there with an Associates Degree in Applied Science.
To the right is Essence Crosby. Essence attended DeLaSalle from 2003 to 2005. She said she learned a lot at DeLaSalle, and appreciated the teachers who pushed her to do her best.
They both made giving blood memorable for me!