The Big Piney graduate took very little time in establishing herself as an outstanding educator as well as a community leader throughout her career of forty-one-years. Bonnie Weber left Big Piney for the University of Wyoming where she earned a degree in Elementary Education in 1975. She immediately secured employment in the Evanston, Wyoming School District. Teaching kindergarten in the morning with thirty-six kids was followed by an afternoon of twenty-nine more first graders who needed a little extra help with learning skills and reading. After teaching reading to what she considered a “tad” naughty (like herself, she admits) group of kids of all elementary grades, she was awarded the Uinta County Teacher of the Year. It was also in Evanston that she started her work as a community leader. With very little to do in Evanston, Bonnie started up exercise classes at the high school in the winter and water aerobics in the summer for a group called “Bonnie’s Bubbly Babes”. With over sixty women taking these calls, Bonnie caught the eye of the Evanston Parks and Recreation and became a member of the council and eventually was elected President. As President, she led the charge for building the $4.5 million dollar recreational facility that is still in use today. Still with time on her hands, Ms. Weber became active with the Junior Miss Program in Wyoming. She became the chair for the state organization, a judge at both Nebraska and Nevada pageants and was Master of Ceremonies three times for the Wyoming Jr. Miss Pageant.
Moving to California to pursue her Master’s Degree, Weber found herself teaching and acting as the Vice Principal in the San Diego School District. Her assignment was in a poor district and found that she had students that spoke many different languages. She claims to have been told “where to go” and “what I could do with certain parts of her body” in Mung, Tapaog, Arabic, Hindu, Mandarin, Chinese and of course Spanish.
During the twelve years, the San Diego School District appointed Bonnie as their representative to the California Schools Leadership Academy where she would attend various workshops and then return to her home school to in-service the teacher there on all trends of education. She was elected President of the state-wide organization and held that position for four years. Perhaps the highlight of her career, was being selected the “Young Administrator of the Year” by this prestigious state-wide organizations.
A move of the family business brought employment for Bonnie at the Deer Park School District near Spokane, Washington. She was the Principal there for her last twenty-one years in education. While there, she instituted many programs within her school. She also kept with her community involvement as she served as the Master of Ceremonies for Miss Deer Park for eighteen years. She also was the keynote speaker at conventions for the Northwest Washington Principal’s Association, the Northwest Nutrition & Service Workers, and the Business and Professional Women’s Association.
Bonnie Remington’s honors and affiliations with educational organizations as well as community and state organizations are too numerous to mention but can be summed up by her last comment on her bio she forwarded for this event.
“For an old gal, I guess what my dear mother said to me many years ago, keep your mouth shut” was something I didn’t listen to very well, and being the rebellious child in the family I learned some difficult lessons. However, in helping kids go on to better themselves an djust being around children for forty-one years has been the biggest reward that anyone could ever have.”