Introduction of Doug Hartle given by Linda Flynn: (Ed. Note:This has been "cleaned up" a little because Linda likes her job in R.O.)

Doug Hartle is a special education teacher who has taught for 28 years in the district, plus some military time. In his present position at Kimball, we have come to enjoy Doug for the excellent job he has done with special education students and for the super support he has given to the classroom teachers. In my career, there have been some years that I have the “pleasure” of having many of Doug’s students. I know that Doug would always help me out by lending an ear or a “more restrictive” environment for these students. There were many occasions when I could not “care for” one of our favorite students. Doug is such a nurturing individual that he adopted two children from the Judson Center. 

At any time, I would just ask Doug to make a parental contact. Doug loved to make parental contacts, in fact, he was known to offer his home telephone number to the parents of his students. They could call in the evenings up to 10 p.m. And on weekends. If there was a “pretty” mom at an IEPC, he always had his number ready. Doug loved IEPCs so much that he often attended for other special education teachers. 

Doug is famous for his other job as special education teacher — that of a chauffeur. Using a quick pace and some spicy language, Doug would pick up students from their homes and drive them to school so they would pass.

Speaking of driving and special education, Doug, of course, got all the special education students in driver’s education. But we won’t talk about the student who was El, LD, POHI, and ADHD, who couldn’t focus on driving correctly or handle the car physically and smashed into the back of the building. Doug did resign from driver’s ed until they offered to “balance” his classes.

Oh, yes, I do believe that Doug should be hired to work as NCA chairperson. He didn’t believe in making a career of NCA and could complete any NCA assignment with the speed of lightning. That’s probably because Doug is a pilot. He doesn’t know how to move in slow motion. In one conversation, he told me he was a pilot, he probably had ADHD, and really couldn’t sit still for any length of time, even when required to attend review classes for his license. I decided then and there that if he ever offered to give me an airplane ride that I would decline.

Doug finds ways to amuse himself and us during those long in-services. He “chirps” and makes little “animal sounds.” That’s because Doug is a deer hunter, and, of course, I will always remember the infamous “deer hunting” letter that Doug received. Who could imagine holding back a “deer hunter” on November 15. How absurd. So now, thank you deer hunters in Royal Oak neighborhood schools, we have one day a year for personal business that can be used for anything we want, including deer hunting.

I checked with several of Doug’s colleagues about what makes him tick. They all responded that Doug reminds himself and us not to take life too seriously. When he and John Decker team teach a class, John never knows what to expect of Doug. He can be seriously teaching a lesson and the class’s attention is on Doug who is sitting there with pencils in his nose and Kleenex in his ears. Doug knows that MEAPs won’t be the true measure of a person’s success in life. 

Doug is married, he has two children, and is accompanied by his mother tonight. It has been a pleasure to have Doug on our staff and to know his goodness on a personal level.

Doug, enjoy your retirement — some which will be spent in Royal Oak and the large part which will be spent on Beaver Island, where he has a home and can enjoy deer hunting without filling out a pink personal emergency form.