As a young man with multiple interests and talents, but without a definite career path in mind, David Beiter sought guidance from an obvious source — an aptitude test.
The test taken back in the 1970s, revealed that Beiter possessed the interest and acumen for a career in either the military, the ministry or education.
The choice he would eventually make resulted in a long and rewarding career in the field of education as a teacher and administrator with Lake Orion schools.
Beiter, now 54, and currently the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, recently announced he will retire at the end of the 2006-07 school year.
It will be a bittersweet farewell for the man who has worn many hats during his more than three decades as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.
While Beiter says it will be difficult leaving his friends and colleagues behind, the memories and accomplishments of a career well spent, will be enough to bolster him in any future endeavors.
‘It’s been a varied career which I’ve enjoyed immensely,? says Beiter, adding that he expects to find other things to keep him busy once he relocates to North Carolina later in the year.
He says his retirement is somewhat premature based on his earlier plans. But he deems the timing appropriate considering the needs of his family.
‘I’m still a young man and was expecting to work longer, but my family needs our support right now,? he says. ‘I need to spend more time with my children and grandchildren.?
His children include daughter, Shawne, 35, and son, Brandon, 31, both of whom reside near Charlotte, North Carolina. Beiter’s grandchildren include Caden, 5, and Callia, 3.
Beiter mentions concern about Brandon, who is currently experiencing serious medical problems, as a factor in his decision to retire early. He and wife, Helen, his bride of 36 years, want to make themselves more available to the family.
It’s that same sense of duty that inspired Beiter to become an educator; along with a passion to help children make the most of their educational opportunities..
‘I fell in love with education,? he recalls. ‘Being around the kids — it became a passion for me.?
Beiter has a simple message for parents, teachers, and more importantly — to all young people who may feel uncertain about their abilities.
‘I believe that every child has the potential for greatness,? he says. ‘All of them have something to give to the world. And I believe that all kids are inherently good.?
The philosophy has served Beiter and Lake Orion schools well over the years. He says the district succeeds because of the shared pride and pursuit of excellence among teachers, parents and students.
‘I picked Lake Orion schools to teach because of its potential,? Beiter recalls. ‘At the time I started it was kind of a sleepy town, but the people were so kind. Now, this district is leading the way in many areas.?
Being a leader comes easily for Beiter. The son of a military man, he graduated from Detroit’s Pershing High School in 1970, just in time to begin a stint in the U.S. Air Force. He and Helen married the same year, and after serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, he was discharged in 1974. It was about the same time Beiter was smitten with the education bug.
No sooner did Beiter accept a position as a 7th grade reading and science teacher in Lake Orion, than he was selected to serve as president of the district’s teachers? union. The position would take an ironic twist.
‘I ended up being president of an association that laid myself off for three years,? he recalls.
While being forced out of the field of education because of difficult economic times, Beiter latched onto a position with Consumers Power, conducting residential and commercial audits. The experience would serve him well later, when he became the school district’s superintendent of operations and maintenance.
He returned to the field in 1984, this time as a teacher at the high school. He would later assume an assistant principal position at the high school, before taking on a series of administrative positions throughout the district.
In 1991, Beiter had the distinction of being appointed to the principalship at Blanche Sims, only to be moved to the same post at the old middle school just two weeks later. He remained there until December of 1995, when he became principal at Lake Orion Junior High School.
When the new high school opened in 1997, he assumed the joint duties of overseeing Scripps and Waldon middle schools. In August 1999, beiter accepted his current position.
Having witnessed considerable changes in the field of education, Beiter says the most significant transformation has been working to make the best use of technology to teach children.
‘The biggest change is the amount of information that teachers have to impart on the students,? he says. ‘This is a community that has high expectations of its schools and its students. The available technology allows the classroom teacher to better manage the curriculum and individualize instruction.?
If technology is the catalyst for enhanced educational opportunities, Beiter believes it remains the job of the teacher to teach students how to access the information they need.
‘Technology gives us the opportunity to be more efficient,? he says, ‘but it’s still up to the teacher to make sure the student ‘gets it.??
Despite a struggling economy and challenges related to meeting mandated state and federal benchmarks, Beiter envisions good things for the future of public education.
‘We’ve created better assessment tools and the quality of people coming into the field is very good,? he says. ‘As a result, our kids are going to be better educated and more able to compete in the world economy.
‘The irony is that while our level of expectation is higher, our financial base to accomplish these expectations has been reduced.?
Still, Beiter believes that the core relationship between the student and teacher, along with involved parents, is the key to developing a well-educated society.
‘I think we can regain our place internationally,? he says. ‘The goal is to allow and encourage every child to be the best he or she can be.?