English Language Arts teacher and NHS sponsor Sherry Unruh announced her retirement Wednesday.  Between teaching for 20 years in the English Department, helping BVNW reach high school accreditation, building the AP program and spearheading NHS for 10 years, Unruh has impacted many facets of the school.

According to Unruh, her decision to leave BVNW resulted from her husband’s retirement plan.  He  has spent the last several months working in South Africa, and Unruh said the separation was very difficult.  With her husband’s plan to retire after he gets back next December, Unruh said it will be better for her to leave in May instead of only teaching one semester next year.

“Being apart has taught [my husband and I] that we don’t want to do anything apart anymore,” Unruh said. “…I had to think about what was best for the department, what was best for the seniors, what was best for this hallway.”

Unruh has been teaching for a total of 36 years.  Previously, she taught at Aquinas and Bishop Miege before coming to BVNW in 1994. She first heard about the job offer while she was at an AP conference in Lawrence. English Language Arts teacher, Rick Pribyl’s wife, Linda Pribyl informed her of a job opportunity. Unruh knew Pribyl because he was her son’s soccer coach, and she introduced herself to his wife who mentioned the job to her. Unruh decided to apply for the position. Four days after she interviewed, she got the job.  At BVNW, Unruh was surprised to find so many people she was familiar with from other aspects of her life.

“It was kind of like old-home week,” Unruh said. “Suddenly I had all these Miege acquaintances to embrace. But it was really Linda Pribyl who got me my job.”

The Pribyls have become friends with Unruh over the years.  Even when she leaves BVNW, Unruh said she knows they will remain friends for life.

Fellow English Language Arts teacher, EK Pearson came to BVNW the same year as Unruh in 1994.  According to Pearson, she bonded with her while their rooms were side-by-side.

“When we first came here, we were wide-eyed, like ‘Oh my gosh, are we going to be able to be contributors in this department?’” Pearson said.  “And I think history speaks for itself in regards to her.”

Pearson said she has always looked up to Unruh.  She referred to her as a good listener, and someone who listens openly without judgment.  Having known Unruh for 20 years, Pearson said Unruh has known her single, dating, engaged, married and a mother.  According to Pearson, Unruh has given her a lot over the years.

“I, personally, wish her the best,” Pearson said.  “I’m excited for her and for her husband for this new adventure that is going to begin for them. But I am selfishly also sad, because I have never known BVNW without her. And so, I know well be OK because she set it up that way, we all set it up that way, you know the building will continue to stand, as [Pribyl] always says.  The building will still stand here and it will be fine even when she’s not here. But I will miss her on a daily basis. She deserves nothing from the best.”

In addition to making lasting relationships with colleagues, Unruh has especially impacted the student body.  NHS historian, senior Lauren Muth has experienced Unruh in NHS and the classroom.  According to Muth, she always pushes her students to be the best and challenges them in every aspect of their lives.  Although she has high expectations, Muth said she has learned a lot from Unruh and considers her a close friend and mentor.

“No matter what people say about her, she is that one person who you can go to for almost anything,” Muth said. “She is a teacher, a counselor, a mother; she is everything you could want in a mentor for your senior year.”

Over the years, Unruh has had multiple siblings from the same family.  Class of 2010 graduate Andy Rao and his sister, senior Priyanka Rao have both had Unruh for English. According to Andy, he loved Unruh’s class because she taught with energy, enthusiasm and passion.

“She genuinely cared about us as people,” Andy said.

In her class, Andy said he learned that one can do well at anything through discipline and motivation. This mentality was especially helpful in college, which Andy said prepared him for the kind of studying needed to do well. He also attained the mindset needed to succeed for the rest of his life. Andy said he visits Unruh whenever possible when he comes back home.

“It’s always a pleasure to catch up with her,” Andy said. “Now that I’m of age, we can finally make plans to get drinks.”

When Priyanka first learned that she got Unruh as a teacher, she was excited. According to Priyanka,  Andy always spoke highly of her and enjoyed his experience in Unruh’s class.  So far, Priyanka said she also has had a good experience and her class has bonded together.

“The very first thing that she told us is that you won’t learn unless you’re laughing,” Priyanka said. “I think that’s very true. Your perspective toward the class or project is that much easier.”

The 20 years Unruh has been teaching brought both good memories and bad.  In 2008, Unruh was in a serious car accident when a turkey flew through her windshield. Unruh had severe damaged to face and was unconscious for several days.

“The accident was very telling,” Unruh said.  “My department rallied around me like I couldn’t have every asked for.  I just don’t think that kind of camaraderie and care happens everywhere.”

When Unruh was still unconscious, Pribyl went to see her in the hospital.  The nurses would not let him see her however, because he was not family.  According to Unruh, Pribyl told the nurses that if he couldn’t report back to school to say Unruh was OK, there would be 200 kids up at the hospital.  Eventually, Unruh’s husband let Pribyl come in to see her.

“I don’t remember [Pribyl], I don’t think my eyes were open,” Unruh said. “But I remember his hand. Isn’t that sweet?”

After Unruh was released from the hospital, she said she wanted to go back to work quickly.  Although she was still convalescing, she said she wanted to come back to forget about her condition. Principal Amy Murphy allowed her to come back to school early, and even let a substitute stay with her for a week just in case Unruh could not finish a day of teaching.

When athletics administrator Steve Harms still coached football, Unruh said she guest-coached for several years. During that time, she said she learned a lot about how sportsmanship and teamwork impact the classroom. She said Harms taught her what kids see as important, and she had a lot of fun in the process.

As a prank one year, Unruh said her students took everything out of her classroom and recreated the room on the PAC stage.  In Unruh’s empty classroom, they left a swimming pool with three live ducks. While the students hoped that this prank would inhibit them from taking their final, Unruh said she sat them down in their same seat on the stage and let them take the test.

“It was a fabulous job,”  Unruh said. “It was the funniest thing. It was so witty and so cute.”

Unruh was also worked to get BVNW accredited.  Although it was difficult at times, Unruh said she learned a lot about how to handle statistics, as well as how to agree to disagree and work with a variety of people.

The Music department also embraced Unruh.  Originally, Unruh said she wanted to be a music major, and the department utilized some of her talent. One of her favorite memories is going down to Dallas with Chorale three years ago.  According to Unruh, it was inspirational.

In all the work Unruh has done for the school, she said she hopes her reputation for precision and high expectation become part of her legacy.

“I think my legacy will be that there’s got to be some place in a building where rigor and responsibility to one’s own learning [is an expectation],” Unruh said.  “I would also like to think there’s got to be that balance between ‘I’m going to expect a lot out of you, but I’m going to laugh a whole heck of a lot.’ People don’t think it when they see me on their list, but I think by the time they graduate they know that good learning comes when you can combine those two in a healthy environment.”

In the teaching profession, however, Unruh said whatever legacy one does leave, does not remain long.  Something bigger and better will always come.

“Bottom line is I am replaceable,” Unruh said.  “And I’ve known it my whole life. And logically, I want for this particular position at the senior level, I want someone strong and vital and enthusiastic to come in. Emotionally, truth be told, I want to be missed.  I think all people want to be missed. But, the reality is there is always somebody out there better than you. And  if there is any place on the face of the planet where you can get somebody better, it’s this building.  People like to teach in this building. And I know there is somebody out there who is twenty times better than I could ever think about being. I hope they apply for my job.”