Have you ever looked into the eyes of a child to see their possibilities? Education leads possibilities to becoming realities.

NYS Commissioner of Education, Mary Ellen Elia, said, “Why is it so critical that all students meet high standards and graduate with a meaningful diploma? It's simple. When some are excluded, all of us ultimately suffer—in many ways. We suffer from our failure to meet America's commitment to provide opportunity for all; we suffer from an unqualified workforce; we suffer from a lagging economy; and, ultimately, we suffer from a society in greater stress.”

There are naysayers that will tell you that a small town education will not get you far in life. I am here to tell you that those naysayers are wrong. It is possible to achieve great things starting with an education fueled in a small town school district.

Sullivan County has many “small town” school districts. Each school district is filled with wonderful educators, spanning across time, that are role models to many of our nation's doctors, lawyers, military personnel, millionaires, teachers, machinists, electricians, plumbers, contractors, architects, scientists, and more.

In these series of articles, I am going to feature a graduate from the different Sullivan County school districts. I am going to share with you the district that they attended, when they graduated, a teacher (or teachers) that inspired them, and what they carry with them today from their “small town” education.

Ryan Speer is a fourth grade teacher at the George L. Cooke Elementary School in the Monticello Central School District. Ryan graduated in 1997 from the Liberty Central School District but he began his education at the George L. Cooke School for kindergarten through third grade.

Today, he teaches in his former second grade classroom at Cooke. He continued his education at SUNY Oneonta to attain a teaching degree. Speer credits his Liberty High School Spanish teacher, Michelle Quick, for being such a positive role model. Speer states that, “Michelle Quick had the ability to connect with her students and build a rapport. She made the instruction engaging and fun.”

Liberty left a lasting effect on Speer. He uses much of what he was taught, and what he learned, in his own teaching. He doesn't just use what he learned in the classroom. He uses what he learned from the diversity of attending the “small town” school district that is Liberty.

“Liberty has always been a very diverse school district. We were all aware of the cultural, social, and economic differences but everyone melded together,” Speer said. “The differences were never an issue. This prepared me for the students I have now. This prepared me to create an environment of acceptance in my classroom and my life.”

If you, or someone you know, have graduated from a Sullivan County School District, and you would like to be featured in one of these articles, please contact me at Joana Dutcher DUTCHERJL@YAHOO.COM. Let us show that our school districts can have a positive impact on our society! Thank you!

Joana Duffy Dutcher is a teacher at the Monticello Central School District who understand the value of quality education. This is the first in a series of articles exploring how Sullivan County natives have gone on to successful careers based on the skills they learned in local school districts and the dedicated teachers who helped inspire them."