Lessons That Last a Lifetime: Readers Share Teacher Tributes

Editor’s Note: As we head into the hectic and exciting back-to-school season, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the many ways teachers impact our lives. We reached out to local residents and asked them to share their stories. Thank you to those who took the time to highlight a teacher who made a difference in their lives. Let’s keep the conversation going - we’d love to hear your stories as well on our social media channels. 


“My 3rd grade teacher, Mary Baldus, had a significant impact on me. Looking back, she had her work cut out for her, given the group of boys that were in her class that year. Yet, I remember her only as patient and kind. She invested in each of us and encouraged my singing and writing, including entering my writing in a contest, which I did, earning a ribbon. She was the first person outside my family who showed they believed in me, and it made a difference.” 

• Dr. Brad Welle, Superintendent, Grain Valley Schools

“Mr. Bertum Cowley, who was the band instructor at Van-Far High School for decades. I had classes with him from the 6th grade through my senior year. His passion for his craft helped foster an appreciation of music in my soul, and I can’t help but think of him every time I see a marching band take the field. He hounded us daily about “practice makes perfect” and had a way of exposing you when you had not followed his directive. It took me years to realize that adage would not only apply to mastering a musical instrument, but in so many other things in life as well. Unfortunately, he passed away shortly after he retired, and I never got the chance to tell him thanks for sharing that life lesson with me.”

• John Overstreet, resident and photographer for countless GVHS games

“Mrs. Young was my middle school homeroom and high school drama teacher. She taught me to embrace my strengths and walk in them proudly - but also to not be afraid of my weaknesses. That we don't have to be perfect, but we can get a little better every day!”

• Melissa Winston, Marriage and Family Therapist and owner, 510 Counseling Group

“My high school English teacher saw my love for storytelling before I even recognized it myself. She encouraged me to join Speech and Debate and the drama club my senior year, even though I was a shy student. That encouragement set me on a path to earn a communications degree in college, become a radio news anchor and sports reporter before moving on to something else.”

• Tiffany Lor, Public Information Officer, City of Grain Valley

”A teacher that had a huge impact on me was Randy Littrell, my high school science teacher and basketball coach at North Davies’s High School in Jameson, MO. My junior year, I had an injury that took me out of basketball for 3 months. He told me I was going to be back for the end of the season so he wanted me to sit on the bench & help at practice like an assistant coach because he didn’t have one. He also started having me help him in the classroom like a TA even though I wasn’t really his TA. It was then that I started thinking about becoming a teacher and coach which had never crossed my mind before. I was pretty upset after the injury, but he went out of his way to keep me involved and in doing so, opened new doors and set me on the path that I’m on now. I owe so much of who I am, where I am, and with who I am today to Coach Littrell and kindness. I hope as a teacher and coach that I’ve done the same for some of my students in the past and into the future.”

• Flip Courter, GVHS teacher and coach

“Mrs. Ina Hire, my fourth grade teacher made learning a game. When she called roll each day (even though she could just look up and see who was absent) she didn't have you say "here." Your answer was a multiplication number or a verb conjugation, or a state capitol. We were constantly made to reinforce our learning, but as 9 year olds, it was a game!”

• Marty Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

“Miss McClure taught English in my Kansas high school, in a community similar in many ways to Grain Valley. She made a lasting impression. She expected order in the classroom, but also was committed to seeing that each student made progress in appreciating and learning language skills, particularly when applied to our written work. I have marveled over the many years that have followed how fortunate I was to have a strong foundation in English when it came time for more advanced course work in college and when these skills were needed in the workplace.

Miss McClure — Hazel Dean "Deana" McClure — at one time was named as Kansas Teacher of the Year. She lived to be 104. She died last year at a retirement home in Olathe. And I learned something I had not known — she loved to dance, starting at an early age, and left a generous estate gift to the Kansas City Ballet. This reminds me that our teachers contribute greatly in the classroom, but often they have even more to offer if we take the time to know them as a person.”

• Dennis Ellsworth, retired journalist, Grain Valley 

Grain Valley News writer Bill Althaus shared a special tribute to Truman High School journalism teacher Ron Clemons. 

“For more than 50 years, I have been a sports writer in the metro area.

I started as a weekend sports anchor at KQTV-2 in St. Joseph, Mo., for three years, the worked at the Kansas City Kansan for another three years before joining the sports staff at the Examiner, where I worked 43 years as a sports writer/columnist.

I owe my passion to the profession to my Truman High School journalism teacher Ron Clemons. My junior year I was part of the class that would make up the journalism staff my senior year.

I was co-sports editor and our paper was named the outstanding high school news paper in the nation - an award that was presented by late Sen. Robert Kennedy's widow Eunice.

Mr. Clemons was simply the best - the best teacher I ever worked with an one of the best teaching journalists in the nation.

When I was an intimidated junior, he terrified me. He wore the finest in clothing - his shoes cost more than my entire wardrobe. And he was a master of his craft. 

I loved sports, was probably the most un-athletic student in the high school, and being a part of the newspaper staff meant two things: It helped me break out of my fear of talking to strangers along with being able to attend every sporting event at our high school, without having to pay for a ticket. And that was a big deal to a kid with very little money is his billfold.

I attended Northwest Missouri State University and was the sports editor my freshman year. I went on to earn many other positions on the staff, but when I graduated in 1976, there were no journalism jobs available. So I took the news/sports anchor role at KQTV-2, waiting for my chance to follow my real dream.

While I lost contact with Mr. Clemons for many decades, we re-united when I was covering Kansas City Mavericks hockey games and Comets indoor soccer games.

Like with all true friendships, it was like I'd just stepped out of his class into the real world. We are now great friends and I always visit with him at the games I am covering.

I've told him many times, but I hope he reads this note and realizes the impact he made on my life.

Mr. Clemons, you're the best of the best - both in the classroom and in your favorite seats at Mavericks and Comets game. I am blessed to have you as a part of my life.”