The
Tiger HI-LINE
Friday, May 20, 2016
Volume 56 Edition 28
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Three beloved teachers retire this year
They may be saying goodbye for now, but they will not be forgotten
Three beloved teachers are it’s like ahhhh,” she said. so good about being a teacher retiring this year: English teachFlaherty was quick to say of music. It’s amazing that I’ve er Diane Flaherty, orchestra that she will not miss grading been able to do this.” teacher Scott Hall and family papers, yet, for Flaherty, her Throughout the years, Hall and consumer science teacher. retirement is bittersweet. “I said that teaching has really Gayle Bruene have all made will really miss just being with impacted him as a person. “I lasting impacts on Cedar Falls the kids,” Flaherty said, as she think it’s helped me be more High School. wiped away a tear. “There’s so considerate and understandFlaherty, whose teaching much goodness in you guys. ing and kind. Being a teacher career has spanned 35 to 40 I will miss being a part of that has made me a better person.” years, has been teaching at Ce- every day.” Flaherty also said Hall said he is definitely sad dar Falls for at least 20 years. that she will miss snow days to leave his orchestra, but he “She is the queen,” counselor because “they’re unexpected.” felt it was time for him to move Mrs. Langan said. “Mrs. FlaAfter she retires, Flaherty on. He sees a bright future herty is very reliable and will do plans to “not grade one paahead for the CFHS orchestra. anything she can to help out per!” She also said she is ex“I hope that the orchestra will her students.” cited to have more time so that continue to be just as strong or Senior Ilsa Knivsland said, she will “be able to read a book even better,” he said. “Mrs. Flaherty has a wonderful that’s not school oriented!” Bruene is another devoted way of connecting to students Hall is another teacher retirstaff member retiring this year. and a great laugh.” Anyone in ing this year. As the director of She started her teaching cathe high school who has had the CFHS and Holmes Junior reer in 1976 and has taught at Flaherty as a teacher knows High orchestras, he has taught the high school for 24 memothat she pushes her students, at the high school for 16 years rable years, especially those but also leaves room for laugh- and led many musicians to divifrom her food/nutrition class. ter. “Teaching is Some of the who I am,” Flamost unusual “Cedar Falls has been a great place to herty said. things that She has work. Great people, great students, great happened many fond include sink memories of everything.” faucets ex—Gayle Bruene ploding and her years at Ceretiring FCS teacher students aldar Falls. “One time, there was most setting an all-school assembly, and sion one ratings at various conobjects on fire, but, of course, they asked the teachers to tests in Iowa. not everything in foods class come down and dance. Susan One highlight in Hall’s years ends in flooding or flames. Langan gave me a hip bump, of teaching is when the orchesFor Bruene, a highlight of the and I went flying across the tra goes on their tri-annual class is when students get to gym floor in front of the whole cruise trip to the Bahamas over invite guests to eat the meal student body!” she recounted, spring break. “The cruises are they have prepared. She said laughing. “One of the other always fun, and the students that she likes seeing how the faculty members was laughing really become a team,” he students are proud of what so hard he had to stand against said. Along with the always enthey made as well as the fun of the wall, and he was sliding joyable cruise trip, Hall will also having people come into the down it.” miss the daily presence of his classroom, but Bruene’s favorFlaherty said that a trip to students and especially their ite thing about teaching is what Washington, D.C., with a stu- “wonderful personalities.” she does everyday: “I just love dent is another standout memSenior Allie Taiber has had working with my students,” she ory. She also recalled a pro- Hall as a director since eighth said. gram that Cedar Falls used to grade. “Mr. Hall has been a fanAlong with teaching, Bruhave called RAMP that helped tastic leader for our orchestra. ene has been very involved to raise students’ standardized His dedication to the program with dance and cheer. She has test scores. “We, as teachers, is amazing. He will definitely be been coaching dance team helped to raise them a lot,” she missed next year,” she said. since 1995. “I have a lot of said, remembering how posiHall, who has a passion for great memories from dance tive the experience was. music, said he feels privileged team,” she said. Bruene has But for Flaherty, the best to have a job that surrounds thoroughly enjoyed being an moments are the simplest him with music every day. “The adviser to both the girls and ones: what she likes to call importance of music in young boys dance teams. “aha moments.” “When I see a students’ lives is so important,” Senior Sommer Danielsen kid struggling or a student that he said. “Music is a part of all and captain of the dance team has no idea what they’re ca- of our lives. It is integrated into has worked with Bruene yearpable of, and when they realize all of our lives whether we play round since she was a freshhow capable they actually are, it or listen to it. That’s why I feel man.
Olivia Martin Photos
From top to bottom are retiring teachers Gayle Bruene, Diane Flaherty and Scott Hall. “Mrs. Bruene is the mother hen of the dance team. She always makes sure we have what we need, and she is very committed to making the team what it is today,” she said. Unlike most teachers, Bruene has never truly had a summer off. During her summers, she is still heavily involved with either coaching dance team or running the concessions for baseball and softball games
at Robinson-Dresser. She is happy to have a more relaxed summer for a change. Reflecting on her years at Cedar Falls High School, Bruene considers herself very lucky. “Cedar Falls has been a great place to work,” she said. “Great people, great students, great everything.” By Opinion Editor Olivia
MARTIN