"If you invest time in them, these kids will run through a wall for you."
-Me, to a new teacher in my department 7 years ago
I began working in this community in 2001--13 years ago. I accepted a position teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies at Mannheim Middle School. I've joked with quite a few people since then that, upon walking into the District 83 administrative building at the corner of Mannheim and Grand for my first interview, the only thing I knew about Mannheim was that it was a road.
13 years later, as I look back on my time working in this community, I'm overwhelmed with fond memories, gratitude, and relationships that will stay with me for a lifetime.
I'm dedicating this post to saying a great big
THANK YOU!
to the Leyden community. I can't begin to single out every person who has positively impacted my life during that time, but I hope that as you read this, you know each and every one of you owns a piece of my thanks.
I'm excited to announce that, beginning July 1, I am moving to Niles West High School as a full-time Dean of Students. Whenever I'm asked why this is the move I want to make in my career, the answer is simple: I feel that being a dean gives me the greatest opportunity to impact the greatest number of students' lives...and that's really what it's all about.
I've been fortunate to work for, work with, and learn from some excellent leaders in the field of education. Thank you to David Katzin, who first pushed me to pursue a degree in educational leadership; and to one of the brightest and most inspiring people in our field today, and one who clearly makes every decision with the best interests of students in mind--Jason Markey. Thank you to Mike Grosch and Dennis Byrne for teaching me the ropes in the deans' office, and to Brian McAdow and Wil Wagner for their willingness to take a chance and bring me over to West Leyden from Mannheim 9 years ago. Thank you to Rob Hamann and Gary Wolf (the Hall of Famer, that is) for putting up with my obsessive behaviors when it comes to baseball. And thanks to Brent Dempsey and Dominic Manola, two of the most passionate people I have ever had the chance to come across, and who I'm lucky to count as dear friends.
Teachers are a rare breed--there's no mistaking that. To dedicate one's life to improving the welfare of the young people in a community takes a great deal of passion and commitment. Not surprisingly, many of the people I've been so lucky to work with at Mannheim and Leyden are still some of my closest friends today. Teachers learn quickly that they are in the bunker together, and learn to rely on one another for support, ideas, and a ton of laughs. Thank you to all of you who I've had the chance to share these experiences with.
"Leyden Pride" has become a fixture in the lexicon around these parts in the last two years, but it's been in existence for a long, long time--certainly far before the onset of social media. The Leyden community has some deep, deep roots, and its inhabitants are certainly proud to be from Franklin Park, Schiller Park, Northlake, River Grove, and Rosemont. (I'm a "Northlakian" through marriage, by the way. My wife is a '96 West Leyden grad...I picked her up for our first blind date from her apartment in Grand Towers over 10 years ago). People simply don't leave--I'm amazed by the number of our students whose parents, aunts, uncles, and even grandparents once roamed the same halls they do today. Thank you to the Leyden community for your commitment to providing all you can to the young people who have access to an outstanding education in our schools.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to our students. Since accepting this position at Niles West, I've been reflecting back on the memories I've shared with so many young people over these last thirteen years. I remember the good times: the dances and parties at Mannheim, the head-shaving bet over the Constitution test results, the 7th grade conference basketball championship (which had as little to do with coaching as you might imagine). And of course there's all of the St. Baldrick's events, the regional and conference titles in baseball, the pep assemblies, and the countless individual triumphs that have taken place in the classroom on a daily basis. I also think back to those times where we've had to truly pull together and support one another. Those memories will always stay with me.
The connections I've made with my students have, in many cases, turned into valued friendships. My first class of 8th graders at Mannheim 13 years ago contains a bright, dedicated teacher in our Life program at West. A hungry young shortstop, who used to stick around and ask me to hit him extra ground balls and throw him extra BP until it was dark, is now my assistant coach. Several of my former students and players are now fully established in exciting careers, and I'm blessed to be able to hear their stories and share in their triumphs.
I've been to their quinceaneras and graduation parties. I've met some of their children, and a few of them have met mine. And, tragically, I've attended a few wakes and funerals along the way.
In the end, I feel like many of these students are an extended part of my family.
In conclusion, I'm truly lucky to have had the chance to work in such a hard-working, proud, and dedicated community.
I'm happy you were willing to run through a wall for me.
You all personify #leydenpride.
Mr. Dykes
