Stehekin School Magic: Linda Herrington reflects on the event that capped Ron Scutt’s career
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Linda Herrington and her family have a long association with Stehekin. She attended the retirement celebration for Ron and Kim Scutt in June and filed this report)
The celebration marking Ron Scutt’s retirement was absolutely wonderful and heartwarming! He received many well-deserved tributes from his former students and their parents. Also, the alums had a joyful time reminiscing about all of the fun they had because of Mr. Scutt’s creative teaching methods.
More than 300 people attended. Mike Barnhart took a wide-angle photo of everyone who attended the Saturday potluck at the school grounds. Also, he took a group photo of the former students who attended. In all Ron taught 147 students during his 39-year tenure.
Ron says he didn’t know that any event was “in the works” until Thursday when he began to see a few of his former students. And, even then, it was only as his family got him to walk over to the school with them early Friday evening that he realized that MANY of his former students and their families had gathered to wish him well. Kim got him to dress up a bit after dinner on Friday by suggesting their whole family (2 sons and their wives and their children) all stroll over to the school and use it as a backdrop to take family photos).
The first appearance by Mr. Scutt (as his students indicated they always call him out of respect) prompted an extended standing ovation from those of us who were assembled in the school yard. That was followed by lots of smiles, tears and hugs.
I feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this very special, meaningful tribute to a master teacher whose creativity, dedication, and intense personal regard for each student benefited them all so powerfully!
Linda Herrington
East Wenatchee
