Tribute to a Local Hero, Dr. Max Walser
By Vicki Bernhardt
I recently had the opportunity to introduce Dr. Max Walser, at a Teacher of the Year event, in Davidson County. Many people think I should be good at public speaking, but it remains a distant goal. Trust me. I am not being modest.
Every day, all day long, Dr. Max Walser was focused on two groups of people, students and teachers. I taught in Davidson County, for twenty-seven years, and having had experience, in other school systems, I consider Davidson County School System, outstanding, if not the best of the best! I think that fact is due, in large part, to its strong leadership, through the years.
I remember my first teachers' meeting, after graduating from UNC Chapel Hill. Peggy Barnhardt was my principal, at that time, and the meeting was conducted by Dr. Max Walser, Nancy Nuckols, and Barbara Everhart. These four, distinguished educators, comprised some of the members of the "Dream Team," during what I consider to be the Golden Age of Education. This was a time when the total child became the focus of educators, and strict adherence to "what we've always done," was no longer viewed as appropriate or the best approach, for all children. Dr. Walser introduced a new program, entitled "Talents Unlimited." This program emphasized the uniqueness of the individual child, and promoted the "novel" idea that all children have special skills and talents, not always recognized through the limited lens that the classroom environment provides. That meeting, and those leaders, made me realize that I had "landed" in the absolute, right place for me!
For many of my twenty-seven years, in Davidson County, Dr. Walser, and his team of excellence, brought new ideas and methods to our classrooms and school system. Even our textbooks reflected diversity of thought and presented lessons, in new and relevant ways, with the best practices in education being utilized.
As time went by, and emphasis changed, (as educational movements tend to do), I always remembered the days of the philosophical thinking that multiple intelligences can only be reached by teaching across the curriculum. We taught, thematically, and could take a single concept, in any subject, and integrate that concept into music, social studies, math, language, and science. We knew that, as educators, regardless of a child's homelife, parental involvement, and all other factors, outside of our control, we were responsible for a child's progress, in our classroom. Dr. Walser and his team encouraged us to dream large, for our students, and provided the teacher development to offer us the tools to be successful!
At the beginning of every new, school year, Dr. Walser made sure that we had a county-wide meeting, (pep rally style), to prepare us for the year, ahead. He invited many, outstanding educators, from a variety of schools of thought, to speak to us, and motivate us to be our best. Dr. William Glasser, was one, such educational psychologist, and his presentation provided a meaningful message, for the year, ahead. At these early meetings, Dr. Walser, always read some of the more, humorous excuses that many creative parents had written to excuse their child's absences. A number of these were impressive and imaginative, and they gave us all a good laugh, while recognizing and "appreciating" the creativity that some parents were bringing to the proverbial table.
Dr. Walser was respected by all the teachers, in the county, and somehow, remained approachable. No teacher was intimidated by his classroom visits, as we all knew he was a source of knowledge and encouragement. We looked forward to his visits, and he knew every, single teacher's name, in the school system! Dr. Max Walser could have been an educational leader, on the national stage, but chose, instead, to make a difference, at home, in Davidson County, and throughout North Carolina.
I say all of these things, on paper, in a way, that I could not say, out loud, at a presentation, without becoming emotional, and we all know that "there is no crying," in public speaking. I will always appreciate and remember the difference his leadership, and that of many leaders in Davidson County Schools, made in the life of a struggling first-year teacher, and on into a career of many years! Every one of my experiences, in other school systems, I compared to the high standards, in Davidson County. Thank you, Dr. Walser!! Always know that you have made a difference in the lives of so many, and, trust me, nobody has forgotten you!
