The 2006-2007 school year is drawing to a close as we begin the month of May. Students minds are starting to wander as the days become increasingly warmer. Before we know it, May 31st will roll around and the senior class will be leaving. But in addition to 500-or-so seniors, Park Center is also saying goodbye to one of its longest standing teachers. At the end of this school year, Mr. Dan Whipple will be retiring.
Mr. Whipple has taught at Park Center since 1974, meaning he has been here for 33 years. He has taught virtually every industrial arts class within that time including Drafting, Electronics, Aviation, Woodshop, Auto-Mechanics, Principles of Technology, Photography, Digital Electronics, and Project Lead the Way (Engineering). Over the years, it has become evident that Mr. Whipple has made a significant impact on many of his students: he has inspired many people to pursue occupations in electronics, photography, engineering. As an offshoot of his Aviation class, he has even taught over 50 of his former students how to fly airplanes (some of whom fly for major airlines now).
Before becoming part of the Park Center faculty, Mr. Whipple worked in industry for three and a half years. During that period, he worked at the University of Minnesota's physics lab researching electronics. The work he did there dealt primarily with spaceflight and even helped contribute to the Apollo program. After this work experience, Mr. Whipple decided that it was time to change his career focus and earned his teaching degree at the University of Minnesota.
When asked about his favorite parts about experiencing Park Center, a long list was given. "I really just love to teach-- I like sharing information with people. It has also been fun that I have been able to have a job where I teach people about my hobbies." says Mr. Whipple. The highlight of his career is when former students come in to visit him. "Having students come in to thank you and tell you that you were able to get them interested in a certain topic is what really keeps me going as a teacher," says Whipple. One of his favorite moments as a teacher was sometime around the '76-'77 school year. Mr. Whipple and some of his students came into school on a Saturday morning and set up a HAM radio tower on top of the school above the Industrial Arts wing. "They probably wouldn't let us do something like that now," laughed Mr. Whipple.
Looking back at his career, Mr. Whipple has noticed some changes in Park Center over the last 30 years. Diversity has increased greatly and has given teachers the opportunity to learn about people from all sorts of backgrounds and countries. Construction has also improved the school by adding new wings and making the school look better than it previously did. One negative change over the years, though, has been the decrease in school spirit. "People just don't seem to get into the school as much as they used to, which is kind of sad," said Mr. Whipple.
Leaving Park Center will be bitter-sweet for Mr. Whipple. He looks forward to spending his time at his cabin which is located on the Northwest angle inlet of Lake of the Woods. In addition to relaxing, he will also be keeping his fingers in teaching. He will be a full time flight instructor out of Anoka County, and will continue doing work with Project Lead the Way, a national program which introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college.
Leaving Park Center will have it's downside, "It is going to be a little weird leaving. Walking into the school has kind of been a 'Home Away From Home' to me," said Mr. Whipple. On behalf of the Park Center Webteam and the thousands of students who have passed through his classroom, I would like to thank Mr. Whipple for his years of excellence and inspired teaching. Park Center will not be the same.
