Bring Okeson back to Colony …

A Spectrum by Rita and Aaron Dotomain

The following letter was addressed to Patricia Chesbro, superintendent of Mat-Su Borough School District, on Aug. 28, 2001:

My name is Rita Dotomain. I am a parent of three children who have attended or are attending Colony High School (CHS). When I heard about Mr. Okeson being transferred involuntarily to Wasilla High School, it literally broke my heart. It was like something had been pulled from my chest or as if I ran into a wall.

Was this a joke? I figured Mr. Okeson would become the next principal of CHS. I was flabbergasted this had happened to Mr. Okeson. I believe Mr. Okeson is an asset to CHS and I want to give him my support.

First of all, Mr. Okeson has been at CHS ever since my eldest daughter attended CHS as a sophomore in 1991. My eldest child graduated from CHS in 1995, my middle child graduated in 1998, and my youngest is a sophomore at CHS, starting on Sept. 4, 2001.

He has always been highly spoken of by my children. My children talked about him as such a great teacher and assistant principal. He was always willing to listen to them. In addition, he was someone they could talk to openly and freely. Mr. Okeson encouraged them to go to career fairs, let them know there is a way to go to college.

He gave them positive answers -- that yes, they could do whatever they put their minds to. Mr. Okeson even kept in touch with us parents through e-mail to let us know what was happening at school, or if we had questions or needed to talk with him we could e-mail him or call him at home. In other words, he is a great teacher and assistant principal.

My husband and I would see him at school functions and sports activities, where we would see him talking to students and/or parents. Mr. Okeson would always say hello when he would run into us. He would then ask about our two eldest children, wanting to know what they were up to.

Because Mr. Okeson took the time to ask those questions, it made us feel good to know that a teacher/assistant principal would remember our eldest children. Our youngest child was a freshman last year at CHS and was able have him as her assistant principal.

She said he was always willing to talk or just say "hi" in the hallway. Our youngest knew Mr. Okeson would follow through on any questions that needed answers or problems that needed to be addressed. In other words, she could count on him, or I should say she knew Mr. Okeson really cared about students at CHS.

I really have no idea why the Mat-Su School District would even consider pulling him out of CHS! What were you thinking about! Did you even think of how the students would feel? You took the only security blanket away from them at Colony High School! You went and put a substitute security blanket, thinking that maybe the students at CHS will not figure out he is missing!

However, you know you are wrong to think you have fixed the problem! You have only made it worse, by taking the one person the students look up to, and that person is Mr. Okeson. Did you honestly think of how the students would feel? You took a familiar face away from the CHS family and gave him to someone else in hopes that no one would scream loud enough to even care! Well, I care! My eldest daughter cares! My son cares! My youngest daughter cares! My, husband cares! Moreover, many more parents, students, and alumni care!

I know there are other CHS parents such as my husband and me who have been touched by Mr. Okeson's professionalism and caring attitude. There are students who have graduated who still keep in touch with him and there are students now who expect him to be at CHS when school starts. If you want CHS to mend the wounds that have scarred CHS then give them back Mr. Okeson so they can heal properly! Do not open this wound to let it fester and burst open again.

I ask you to bring back Mr. Okeson to Colony High School as the principal.

Rita and Aaron Dotomain are Colony High School parents.