Dake retires from DES music room

Posted on: Jan 23, 2023

From Illinois to Arizona and a handful of school districts in Minnesota, Sharon Dake blazed a musical trail across the country over 41-plus-years as an educator.

None of those stops lasted as long as her final post in Delano, however, where she began in 2006 and now retires after 16.5 years as a Tiger.

“I’m really thankful for this time here at Delano,” Dake said a short time before her final day in the classroom on Friday, Jan. 20. “I’m thankful to the parents for having such great kids, and the staff here, and the administration.”

While the midpoint of the school year made for a natural stepping off point, Dake said she hadn’t originally intended to retire before next summer.

“I started the school year thinking I could do it,” she said. “It’s been challenging, because as a teacher it’s just so many hours. I know everybody works hard, but I get home and I’m exhausted. At the end of the fall it was just becoming apparent that it was hard to keep up with what I’m doing at school and my family needs.”

Dake’s husband, Chuck, whose career led to many moves around the country earlier in their lives, is now retired, and her own retirement will free them up for travel and more family activities with their grown children and extended family. While the benefits are clear, Dake said the decision to retire before the end of the school year wasn’t easy.

“It’s very difficult. Some days I want to say that I changed my mind,” she said. “I’m really going to miss the students, and I love working with the teachers. They’re very dedicated and resourceful, and they really care for the students.”

DES Principal Rachel Schultz said that Dake’s sense of humor, attention to detail, genuine care and concern for students, and ability to plan a path for student success made her effective and endearing in her role.

“My favorite memory of Sharon Dake was watching her take the stage at our concerts last spring,” Schultz said. “The joy and pride she felt came through so vividly as she introduced and showcased what she had been working on with students. There was a spring to her step that was likely a combination of nerves and excitement that let the audience know the love she has for music, teaching, and for her students.”

Coming to Delano
A native of Zion, Illinois, Dake attended college at the University of Arizona and moved on to teach elementary music at multiple schools in those two states following her graduation. Why did she go into music education?

“I really love children,” Dake said. “I love being with them; I get a lot of energy from them. I also love music, so it was a really good match.”

Even when she took some time off to raise her own children, Dake continued teaching piano lessons and staying active in music at her church. Eventually she returned to part-time work in the schools, then full time.

When the family relocated to her husband’s home state of Minnesota, Dake worked in Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted and the Elk River school district before coming to Delano. She started at Delano Elementary, but also spent some time in the middle school and high school before returning exclusively to the elementary in 2013.

“It was nice to be at the middle school and high school too, but elementary school is my passion. I fit better with that,” said Dake.

Having the broad perspective of one who has taught in many different places, she said she thoroughly enjoyed her experience in Delano.

“I think the students that come through Delano Elementary are special,” she said. “They’re just really awesome kids. They’re so respectful and responsible and fun. As a music teacher you need the whole class cooperating together, and they do that. We can play instruments together, we can sing harmony together, we can improvise, and I really appreciate that about them.”

Teaching method
Dake called her fellow DES music teacher, longtime acquaintance Penny Koets, “remarkable,” and Koets said the feeling is mutual.

“Sharon brought a definite joy for teaching music to the musicians of DES,” Koets said. “Sharon absolutely loved the students and being with the students.”

The two shared an affinity for the Kodaly approach to instruction, which uses the voice as a primary instrument and vehicle for learning musical concepts.

“Sharon loved teaching her students how to sing ‘tune’fully and beautifully,” Koets said, adding that Dake enjoyed the process of helping students reach their full potential as young musicians.

Koets also appreciated the way the two were able to compare notes, and Dake’s willingness to share ideas, teaching tools and music.

“I will miss talking curriculum with Sharon, and I will miss talking with Sharon about anything and everything not curriculum related,” Koets said. “She was a wonderful colleague and friend. I wish her all the best in her retirement and look forward to hearing great travel stories!”

Retirement plans
Dake won’t hesitate to seize new opportunities offered by her retirement, as she plans to travel to Texas for a niece’s promotion ceremony the week after she finishes up at DES.

“We’re excited to do that. I’ve missed out on things like that before,” she said.

Later, she and her husband plan to spend time in Tuscon, Arizona, and a longer-range plan is to travel to Europe.

“I think I’ll get tired of traveling and want more of a routine eventually, but right now I think travel would be a good thing to do,” she said.

Because she still loves teaching, Dake may hold onto her materials in case a part-time opportunity opens up in the future, but in general she plans on relaxing for a year or so before charting any sort of new course.
 

“I think this will just be a gap year. Then I’ll see what I really want to do, and do that,” she said.

Schultz said the school community has appreciated her service, and wishes her the best going forward.

“DES will miss her smile and how she kindly greeted and welcomed our students each day,” Schultz said. “She has given students a strong foundation of music education that they will carry with them through their school years and beyond. We are excited for Sharon and what is to come as she celebrates and begins her retirement. Congrats, Sharon!”

Post Categories: Elementary School