Jim Kershner Retires after 35 Years
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We caught and kept him for 35 years, now we have to release him!
On Sunday, May 19, from 2:00 to 5:00p.m. at the Ballard School, over two hundred friends, family, Ballard staff, students, past and present, and people from the community attended a retirement reception in Mr. Jim Kershner's honor. The Ballard staff presented him with a picture collage in a handmade barn wood frame and a gift card to amazon.com. If anyone knows Jim, reading is one of his favorite things to do. Mr. Kershner reluctantly, because he would rather be sitting in the back visiting, stood at the receiving line meeting and greeting the people that had come to see him. This photographer saw looks of happiness and some of surprise when people would come up to greet him. There were stories being told, memories shared, but mostly, lots of laughter throughout the afternoon.
The cakes were done by a former student Gail (Morris) Perrymann; she was very creative to decorate a cake the could have been a scene from Kershner’s life...a fisherman with his line in the water setting by a big black dog. Not only were the cakes decorated beautifully but they tasted delicious. Kerri Loyd, Lori Oswald, Gail Perrymann, and Emily Darnell were on hand at the refreshment table to make sure there was always enough cake and punch ready for the hungry and thirsty guests.
Mrs. Raelynn Kershner, co-worker and wife stated in an e-mail
“A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out today to share in celebrating Jim's retirement! And another BIG THANK YOU to the bunches of you who couldn't attend but sent kind and thoughtful messages and cards. Jim is grateful to be a part of the family we call "Ballard". She continued by saying “And finally, a HUGE THANK YOU to the Ballard folks who made the reception happen. All I did was show up. Kerri Loyd, Lori Ingham Oswald, Gail & Butch Perrymann, Cheryl Murchie, John Siebeneck, Sonny Mahan, Jim Barton... and I bet there were others involved, too. Thank you for honoring Jim and making him take the spotlight for just a few hours! ;) “
Mr. Jim Kershner stated in a note
“I was overwhelmed by the response and expressions of gratitude I received at my retirement reception. I wish to extend my thanks to the students, parents, Ballard staff, and friends for the privilege of serving this community over the years. Teaching these children was a responsibility I never took lightly. I have thoroughly enjoyed working here and appreciate the support always provided me during my tenure with this school.
While I look forward to enjoying my retirement, I will miss daily contact with the students and staff, parents, grandparents, and friends of Ballard School. My heartfelt thanks to all.”
Ballard's Greatest Catch
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After 35 years of service to our school, Mr. Jim Kershner is retiring. He has impacted hundreds of students and teachers during his time here at Ballard. I had the chance to interview some of his former students and co-workers to get a feel of what he has done for our community. When asked what their first thought about him was most people responded that he was tough, respectful, and didn’t take anything from anyone. Co-worker, Karl Lucas, says, “I remember my first year of teaching, and I hadn’t known Jim very long. I got to see him in action one day. He was nose to nose with a student about an assignment, really giving him the business (loud), and I believe the student understood completely because I never saw that student again with Mr. Kershner in the hallway. It only took one of those, and you were cured.” Co-worker and friend, John Siebeneck says, “He is probably the most humble person I know. He is willing to help anyone out with anything. He also knows when you need to be taught a lesson and then how to bring you back up.” Recent Graduate, Amber Doty’s first impression of Mr. Kershner is, “A one-of-a-kind! I am so grateful he was my English teacher. I couldn't have asked for a better one.”
As you can imagine, many people had memories to share. Larry Bergschneider was a student in Mr. Kershner’s first year of teaching and he recalls, “Once, we boys threw spit wads up on the ceiling in his English class in the old school. The ceilings were at least 10 feet high, and we were chewing whole sheets of paper and sticking them up there. The girls thought we would get in a lot of trouble, but Kershner walks in and just RIPS the girls and made them get a ladder and clean off about 50 spit wads while the boys watched. Kershner laughed the whole time!” Former Student Mackenzie Oswald says, “I remember going into his class, the one thing people always said was, ‘He is one of the best teachers you’ll ever have. He’s great, but you don’t want to make him mad’ I kept that [advice] in mind, but I couldn't help myself...My 8th grade year I crashed a computer, because I changed a setting, and boy was he mad! After that, though, I never had another “accident.” His getting onto me made me reconsider what I was about to do before I did it. One thing I miss to this day is his random stories that he would tell in class, and when he would get REALLY into a story, he would start laughing so hard he couldn't hardly get the rest of the story out, and his face would turn beat red. He has the best stories, and he can tell a story better than ANYONE. Many people agree with Mackenzie in that Mr. Kershner has the best stories. I think everyone remembers his story of the Texan with his pants down. Every time he tells it he gets red in the face just as Mackenzie described. If you don’t know this story, I recommend you asking him about it. It’s a great one!
Over the years Mr. Kershner has taught many people. He doesn’t just teach schoolwork, though. He has taught many people some very important life lessons. Co-worker and former student, Kerri Loyd, says that one thing he has taught her is, “Only a boring person gets bored.” Boys basketball coach and former student, Troy Engelhardt says from Mr. Kershner he learned, “How and when to step up as a leader. Timing is everything!” Former student, Tina Hon, says that she learned, “You may not want to do some things and may not understand why you have to do things, but you just have to do it. That’s the point of being an adult.” Jim Kershner has taught countless lessons to hundreds of people. Lessons that we will never forget.
I also had the chance to sit down with Mr. Kershner himself and ask him some questions. In his 35 years of teaching here at Ballard, Mr. Kershner has had the opportunity to teach English and History. He also has coached jr. high basketball and baseball. Although he doesn't want me to mention it, Mr. Kershner was also the pep club sponsor for a few years too. When asked if he has any favorite memories of his time here he replied, “There are too many to list,” but after he thought about it for awhile he said, “I guess my favorite memory is when the school burned and the community’s response to the emergency. It was outstanding! Everybody but Ballard thought this school would just go away.” Lucky for us, though, it didn’t and Mr. Kershner has stayed.
While I was interviewing him, he even answered the question that everyone wants to know. “Do you have a favorite class?” He responded with, “I always said that the graduating class of ‘79, that was my first year teaching, that I owe those seniors a great deal. They helped me immensely my first year teaching. But as far as a favorite group, I can’t say that.” When asked what he would miss most, he said, “The daily contact with students. I’ll be at the ball games and such, but that will be a big change.” Since he is retiring, I thought I would find out if he has any retirement plans. When I asked him, he told me, “I’ve resisted making concrete plans; I don't want any plans. [I’ll do] The things that I do that I’ve always done; I’ll just have more time to do them when I choose. I can’t see myself changing things much except every day I won’t be here in this classroom.” Mr. Kershner says that he is looking forward to retirement, but really won’t know what it’s like until August when we come back, and he doesn't. Don’t fret, though. Mr. Kershner told me that he will be subbing, but it will have to wait until after Christmas. I think I speak on behalf of everyone currently in our school that we will take Mr. Kershner any time we can get him.
Mr. Jim Kershner has been a very influential member in our community. We cannot thank him enough for his years of service to us. Our school won’t be the same without him sitting behind his desk with his feet up and book, kindle now, in hand. We all wish you luck with your retirement. Enjoy!
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