Dodson Supt. Weitz Retiring

You may have heard the saying, "All good things must end" and that is no exception to the teaching and administrative career of Gray Weitz, who will be leaving the school, community and state as he retires soon from Dodson Public Schools.

As this chapter in the Life of Gary Weitz begins to unfold, he has accomplished as much in his career as one might hope to accomplish. He has been active in school districts spanning across Washington, Oregon and Montana, ranging is size of 6700 students down to the student enrollment of 100 at Dodson. Stepping down, sizing down and moving on, and always looking forward, while remembering backwards. That is just part of the life of an active administrator.

Weitz had enough time in his schedule to provide the PCN with some closing thoughts and highlights of his journey through the field of education. On Friday evening, May 17th, he will stand before the community gathered for the 2024 Dodson High School Commencement ceremony for his last official graduation. Over the years, he has been able to enjoy molding and influencing young minds into productive adults that set out on their own walk of life. It was his goal to see that each individual was prepared to the best of his abilities, within the scope of his work.

Over the span of his career, he followed in the work of his family members, who were teachers, and obviously had a great deal of influence on his career choice and achievements.

Weitz said, "I was offered a teaching and coaching job right out of college in the very district I attended as a child. It was a large district and I was a bit intimidated, but it prepared me for the career ahead quite well. I taught U. S. History and Government for 15 years at McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. I then began my administrative career in 2000 as an athletic director, and soon thereafter as an assistant principal in Walla Walla, Washington School District 9, across the Oregon-Washington border."

He added, "It was great because I didn't have to move. Walla-Walla was a district of 6,500 students. I was an assistant principal in a junior high of nearly 800 students. To this day, I would say that age level is my favorite to work with!!"

Weitz, as stated, comes from a family of educators. His sister, recently retired from teaching and coaching high school basketball is Las Vegas, Nevada. "She is quite accomplished as a coach leading her teams to several nationally recognized rankings with USA Today and is a six-time 6A State Champion. Her teams have competed at the annual McDonalds Classic on two different occasions televised by ESPN and ESPNU. I'm very proud of her and her accomplishments as a teacher/coach."

When asked what he has learned about administration that he didn't know before he started, he said, "You have to adapt to the culture and community you are leading first. Not the other way around. If you understand that...if you truly understand that...then you can be successful in implementing the proper vision and proper researched-based models and changes that are effective in that community.

I've learned over experience and time that you are not a "leader" of anyone until those you are leading recognize you as such themselves. You may have a "title" but unless you build relations and trust with those you are impacting and leading every day...you won't be effective, I believe I understood that over time. Building relations, trusting and ensuring people I knew had a competency that would contribute to their vision was always first when I moved forward in my career."

In 2004 under the No Child Left Behind Act, the district he worked in Pateros, Washington, where he was working as a building/campus principal, Weitz was honored with the "Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School Award." He said this was one of the highlights of his career. "That was rewarding because we all felt that the structures and models we were implementing were leading to academic success. It did wonders for the morale of the district and community."

The award and recognition was great for the marketing as they noticed an increase in enrollment and teacher application in the time afterward. "It was truly a district award and you always give credit to the staff. They are the "boots on the ground" every day."

Weitz shared, "It was pretty cool...I got to go to Washington, D.C. to accept the award. We were only one of five districts in the state of Washington that year to receive the award. I met some very distinguished officials as well. It was also a nice boost for my career."

"There are always people when working in public positions that challenge you. I never really encountered negative parent or public issues enough to talk about," Weitz said. That statement is one all administrators would like to be able to say.

And...with leaving, what mark would he like to leave on the staff and students? "I believe I did my very best to always provide the building or district I was leading with high character staff, the best modern resources money can buy and always emphasized working in a positive culture and providing students with a positive culture. I would like to think adults and students alike throughout all of these years would feel I was competent in every area of a school district (lg. or small) and had the best interest of the "whole" always in mind."

The chapters will rest for a while as Weitz and his spouse, Reba, retire to their new home on the shores of the golf course in Lake Elmo, which is a mere 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis.

"We will golf. I love camping and I love the Vikings and Twins. Watching professional and college sporting events live has always been a love of mine. I've been to many WSU Cougar games as a principal in Colfax living next to the University, and spent many times in the seats at Mariners and Seahawks games while living and growing up in Oregon and Washington. My spouse also enjoys all of these hobbies as well, which is great."

Words to think about with Mr. Weitz's reitrement: "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops"-Henry Adams. Having touched as many lives as Weitz has, it is sure he has made an impact on students.

As another saying goes, "Retirement is a blank piece of paper." Mr. Weitz, go enjoy the easy life now, there are still chapters to be written and you are the author. Thank you for your service and contributions to the community and lives of so many. God's speed.