Educator Spotlight: Dane Hunter
When you step into Dane Hunter’s science class at Central East High School, it is immediately festive. There are colorful bulbs hanging from the ceiling, multicolored wreaths above the white board and a small decorated tree near the door. It is warm and inviting and reflects the room’s teacher, Mr. Hunter. It is a room in which students feel welcome and comfortable. Dane’s room feels a little bit like home and he feels like he is part of a wonderful family.
Dane began teaching in Central in 1980 and started out as a woodshop teacher. He had students competing and winning at both the Fresno and California State Fairs. His students made beautiful pieces of furniture back then until he eventually decided to get his credential in chemistry. When he was in college he wanted to be a marine biologist at Humboldt State and so teaching science was a way to get a little closer to his early passion. Since then, he has taught students science. He has run countless science labs in his career. He insists on students actually practicing science and they perform as many as 25 labs a year while constantly working on projects just like his first woodshop students did. He firmly believes that they learn best by practicing science.
In his years teaching, Dane has observed a shift in culture and cultural paradigms. He believes the current generation of students have different priorities and motivations. He makes it a point to try to keep up with their trends and interests. While students may be different over the years, he continues to teach by building good relationships and trying to always remain humorous even while he runs a tight ship in his classroom.
He loves the diversity of the Central community and while he briefly tried the waters of another district, he returned home to Central after only a few years and says he wouldn’t choose anywhere else. He explained that even when things are frustrating or stressful, his colleagues, especially the science department at Central East, always pick him up. He knows he can lean on them whenever he needs something. They are a family.
When he isn’t running labs for his students, Dane loves to be outdoors. He loves hiking and skiing the most and of course photographing the remarkable world that we live in. His photos adorn the walls of his classroom like they may in a home office. They include many bright and vibrant shots of the natural wonders that surround our Central Valley. Many students have had the privilege of having Mr. Hunter as their teacher. All of them learned from a man passionate about people, our natural world and enjoying every moment we share here. We are blessed to have him as an educator in Central Unified.
Educator Spotlight: Donna Lemley
In the corner of our district, surrounded by grape vines, fruit and nut trees and lined by palms, Houghton Kearney K-8 school continues to welcome students as it has done for decades. The school is a reminder of what Central Unified was like years ago before suburban expansion when we were a small, mostly rural, district. There is one classroom and one teacher per grade. They are the same classrooms in which actual generations of families and students have learned. Students can look out the windows at the many mature trees, just as their own parents did years earlier. Furthermore, since 1981, Donna Lemley has been there day after day, year after year, teaching those students with consistent compassion.
Mrs. Lemley began her illustrious teaching career on November 2nd 1981. It was the Monday after Halloween and she took over a 3rd grade classroom. From that day and to this very morning she has welcomed students into her room, nurtured them, guided them and taught them.
Nowadays, Donna teaches 1st grade as she has for many years in room 1, of course. Her room is inviting and warm with little backpacks all lined up outside as kids play while she finishes prepping for the day. Naturally, there are tiny chairs and low tables that her students sit at as she teaches them to read and write and the basics of mathematics. But really what she teaches them more than anything is to be good friends, good daughters and sons and of course, good students.
Donna’s own children are Central students. They are adults now, but she credits Central for helping to educate her kids and help them be the awesome people they became. When asked about why she loves Central, she explained that it is a wonderful community. She loves being a part of a school and a district that feels like a family. She even credited the administration she works with for caring about teachers and making sure everyone was cared for through the recent challenging years during which we all adjusted to the chaos caused by covid. She admitted that it is a challenge today compared to years ago when working with parents to keep students accountable.
When asked about how she approaches challenges, Donna explained that she tries to withhold judgment and always be honest, consistent and compassionate. She elaborated that all generations have their challenges and she is not one to judge the difficulties of raising children today.
When Donna isn’t teaching, she and her daughter love to go to Disneyland. She also loves reading, gardening, going on walks and cooking. She really does embody the quintessential nurturing, consistent 1st grade teacher. She greets all of her students with a warm smile and she has been an absolute staple for Houghton Kearney and Central Unified. She is deeply admirable and we salute and honor Donna Lemley for her service to our students, community and district.
Educator Spotlight: Megan Turner
As virtually everyone in education knows, there are a variety of educators. It takes more than simple math, english and science to educate students in the 21st century. Therefore, we need teachers like Megan Turner who is the teacher-librarian at Rio Vista Middle school. She reminds all of us how important various educators are in holistic education.
Megan began her career in Fresno Unified as a performing arts teacher. She then worked in Dinuba as their district librarian. She was there when she was recruited by Central’s supervisor of library services, Janet Wile. Rio Vista was in need of a teacher librarian in 2019 and we are fortunate that Janet convinced Megan to join our team. Megan explained that Central USD is one of the few districts that have teacher librarians at the middle school levels. Along with the library technicians at the site to help support the library program, it was one of the many reasons she was excited to join us. She values her library tech, Ed Kezirian, very much.
When asked what she loves about being a Central educator, she said she loves both the staff and the students. One of her favorite things is working with the entire staff to develop dynamic and well supported classroom lessons and projects. She explained that she does not consider herself the expert in everything and loves to hear all the insights and expert knowledge of the wonderful people she works with and how she can help support and collaborate across the campus. As for her students, Megan loves working with middle schoolers and loves their developing personalities which are often silly and goofy.
When asked about the challenges of educating in the 21st century, she admitted that it is complicated. She believes strongly that children ought to be taught holistically. All of the dimensions that make up a whole person must be fostered and nurtured. Changes in our society have put a larger burden on educators to address all of those needs and that creates challenges for us. She addresses those issues by leaning on the strengths and expertise of her colleagues. Collaboration is her favorite strategy for addressing the challenges she faces as a teacher librarian.
Megan is half of a dynamic educator family! Her husband is Dennie Turner, the music director at Central East High School. Being the wife of a high school band director is its own identity as there are constant performances and concerts to put on and endless rehearsals to help our district’s musicians be their best. Together they have three children which keep both of them busy as well, while filling their lives with overflowing love.
When she can, Megan loves to spend time at the beach, being a San Diego girl at heart even in the Central Valley.
Megan reminds us that there are many types of educators who are all important to the success of our students and that together, we can have a tremendous impact on young lives, who may need us now more than ever.