Ron Reifert

REIFERT

Posted By: June Brewer Welsch (email)
Date: 12/21/2007 at 03:55:23

Muscatine Iowa Journal April 4, 2005
For 39 years, soon-to-retire teacher Ron Reifert followed a basic rule with students: 'Show them you care'
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Science teacher Ron Reifert came to work for the Muscatine Community School District 39 years ago when teachers wore ties, girls wore dresses and boys didn't wear earrings.

As he completes his final year in education, he reflects on some big changes.

"Girls dress more like boys. You never see a girl in a dress. And boys wear earrings," said Reifert. "It's completely turned around."

But he's not just singling out the kids.

"I used to wear a coat and tie," said Reifert, who was wearing a button-down shirt and slacks during an afternoon interview in his science classroom at Central Middle School on March 30. "Look at me now."

Teachers have changed in other ways, too.

In his early years of teaching, Reifert said a lot of teachers smoked. Today, he said, the prevalent smoking areas in schools have all but disappeared.

When he began teaching in 1963, his annual salary was $5,000.

Today, Reifert, who holds a master's degree in education from the University of Iowa, is earning about $49,000 a year.

"But I was never in this for the money," said Reifert. "I still enjoy what I'm doing."

Reifert, 65, said leaving the profession wasn't a simple decision. But he and his wife, Nancy, want to spend more time with their two children and four grandchildren.

His son, Scott, is a vice president with the Chicago White Sox and Scott's wife, Amy, is a women's soccer coach at the University of Chicago. His daughter, Susan Pashley, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Tom, who organizes high-profile golf tournaments.

"I have a year planned you won't believe," said Reifert. "I don't know how I'm going to get everything done. I'll need to live another 50 years."

CMS principal Terry Hogenson said he's enjoyed working with Reifert for the past three years.

"He maintains one of the highest levels of integrity of anyone I know," said Hogenson. "I appreciate the fact I got to go to work every day with a person of his character."

Reifert spent the earliest years of his career in Calamus and Belle Plaine before arriving in Muscatine.

His philosophy for successful teaching includes building a rapport with students.

"I have the kids make a list at the beginning of each semes-ter with their likes and dislikes," said Reifert. "Then, later in class, I'll mention something from that list to each child. Maybe something we have in common. When you show you care, they'll do things for you."

Reifert said he also strives to

make his class interesting and fun.

"I use anything and everything to get students' attention," he said. "I sing to them."

Former student Rachel Reifert, who is not related to Ron Reifert, said he definitely got her attention when she was a CMS student.

"He made learning fun," said Rachel, 27, who now teaches at neighboring Jefferson Elementary School. "I think he relates well to the students. He can act like a kid himself."

"I believe he was probably a great teacher when he started," said Hogenson. "But he's one of those teachers that gets better every year."

Reifert has also been a promoter of athletics for school-age children. He started the CMS girls track program in the late 1960s. He has also been a high school baseball coach and an eighth-grade football coach. He conducts baseball pitching clinics in the summer.

One thing he's enjoyed most about teaching is learning what has become of his students.

"It's fun to see where the students end up," said Reifert. "You feel you had a small part in it."

But Reifert said he and his fellow teachers can't give students everything they need to be inspired and confident. He said he would like to see all parents become involved with their children. Reifert recommends that parents begin reading to their children at an early age and later attend their child's parent and teacher conferences and stay involved in their child's academic progress.

His advice for teachers coming into the profession could also be used by parents.

"Show them, children, you care about them," Reifert said. "Attend their athletic contests, musicals, dance recitals etc., and praise them whenever possible, and be a role model."