After reading my resume, former staff member and acting principal Ted Webster encouraged me and my family to interview for a position at Dakota Adventist Academy. We were reluctant to leave the west, where our families live, and take up boarding school work. I grew up on a boarding school campus, and I vowed to myself I wouldn’t raise a family at a boarding school. But after Webster’s encouragement and a series of divine events, we accepted. That was 18 years ago.
At that time, we had two sons in grade school and two in academy. Our two youngest graduated from grade school at Brentwood Adventist Christian Elementary, and eventually all four graduated from DAA.
My initial position was English teacher, which included yearbook and Ripples (school paper) sponsorships. A few years later David Chapman encouraged me to develop an art class, which grew into a four-year program in which students earned an Enriched Diploma in Visual Arts and graduated with a portfolio enabling them to enter an art academy.
Janet, my wife, began working part time in the cafeteria under Cherryl Kaiser. After a few years, Janet became the head cook, a position she continues to hold today.
Along with our professional responsibilities, we have been involved in the church, class sponsorships, National Honor Society sponsorship, Sunday activities and coordinating intramurals.
Though the work has seemed at times endless, it has been rewarding. We have skied, ice skated, camped, and participated in numerous other non-work-related activities. We are blessed to have had the privilege to serve Dakota Adventist Academy and the Dakota Conference.
Gary Way is former English and art teacher at Dakota Adventist Academy.
