Photo by Holly Allen – This will be Deb Spade’s final week teaching classes at Valley Falls.
by Holly Allen
A second longtime teacher will bid farewell to the halls of Valley Falls High School at the impending conclusion of the current school year.
Deb Spade, a social studies and physical education teacher who has spent half of her teaching tenure, 21 of a total 42 years, with USD 338, is set to retire this month.
Spade, who lives on 80 acres between Denison and Holton, was raised in Silver Lake, where she graduated from high school. The eldest of three daughters, her father was a heavy duty mechanic and her mother, a stay-at-home mom. Both of her parents also threw the Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper for a long while — a job Spade was required to help with on the weekends and over summer breaks.
After attending Washburn University for a year, Spade moved on to Emporia State University. Originally intending to work toward degrees in forestry and photography, the startup costs of which were prohibitive, she eventually decided on education, based purely on the fact that she herself enjoyed school.
After earning her BS and MS degrees from ESU, Spade taught social studies, physical education, and health at Royal Valley before moving on to the Holton school district, where she taught five years.
She and her husband, Michael, a chemistry/physics teacher at Holton who retired last year with more than 30 years with the district, had three kids in five years and Spade cut back her time to coaching and substitute teaching until her children were school-aged.
Spade recalls her time long-term substituting within the Jackson Heights school district teaching math and physics as informative.
“These subject were not my forte — at night my husband would teach me physics, and the next day I would be teaching the same thing to my students,” she laughed.
In 2003, Spade came to teach at Valley Falls, initially in the junior high, teaching social studies and physical education, and sponsoring scholars’ bowl. In 2008, she moved to teaching high school social studies. Over the years she has continued teaching junior high P.E., and added cross country and track coaching to her resume.
Spade agrees with her fellow retiring teacher, Rod Bunde, that the rapidly-changing technology has been her biggest challenge over four decades. She recalls using a mimeograph machine and hand-cranking worksheets in the early days.
“Needless to say, we did a lot of stuff on the chalkboard in those days and utilized very few worksheets,” she said. “They took a great deal of work to produce!”
While most of what she teaches has stayed the same, the way the information is presented has changed vastly over the years. She was excited with the opportunity brought forth in using iPads and videos as aids to teaching, but says those things are currently facing a regression due to fears around students utilizing artificial intelligence in completing schoolwork.
“I have always allowed plenty of time to complete work in the classroom, but I’ve done this even more within the new climate of technology,” she said. “Most of our tests are done on paper.”
Her favorite parts of teaching have always been the projects her students have completed and shared over the years.
Not too long ago, shortly after her husband retired from teaching, Spade was diagnosed with breast cancer. The two things were major factors in her choosing this time as the right moment for her own retirement.
Spade and her husband have three grown children, Mitch, 36, Topeka, who has two children; Matt, 34, Manhattan, who has three children; and Amanda, 31, Kansas City.
Spade is a proper outdoorsy person — she particularly loves sports — and predicts those hobbies, along with her grandchildren, will keep her busy in retirement over the warm-weather months. She also loves to sew and will take advantage of that hobby to keep her busy in the wintertime.
“The most important advice I can impart to young teachers is this — when you are here, dedicate yourself to the school and your students,” Spade said. “And even more importantly, don’t burn out. Value your personal life and the things you do outside of these walls, as well.”
USD 338 will honor Deb Spade and Bunde from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, May 17, in the school cafeteria. The reception is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Those unable to attend can send or drop off celebratory cards for the teachers at 700 Oak Street, Valley Falls, KS 66088.