R-2 DISTRICT HONORS FOUR RETIRING EMPLOYEES; NORMAN CONSIDERS HIMSEL TO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LUCKY

Don Norman feels he has been lucky during his 27 years in the education field and even before.

"I was in the Signal Corps and was told I was definitely headed for Vietnam," said Norman, who began his career as an engineer with Union Carbide. "I finally called to get my assignment and they said 'You're going to Hawaii.'"

After his military duty, Norman decided the engineering field was not for him. He returned to school and received his education degree and began teaching at Woodland High School. After teaching there and at Jackson Junior High a total of five years, he became an elementary counselor and finally an administrator, specializing in special education.

"I've been lucky," Norman said, as he contemplated his approaching retirement. "I was lucky being sent to Hawaii in the military and I was lucky in getting this job."

In recent years Norman has overseen the Jackson R-2 special educaiton program which involves some 500 students, 37 teachers and 27 paraprofessionals. He oversees student placement in the special ed program, among other duties, and oversees administration of achievement tests in the R-2 District.

"I've enjoyed it," he said. "I haven't had a boss I didn't like. I've worked with a lot of good people A lot of them are still here and a lot have gone on."

The Bloomfield native has seen education change considerably during his career. Some has been for the better, some has not.

"It seems ironic that teachers are being trained better today and the facilities are better, but we still seem to have problems," he said. "I think things are better, but society has a lot of problems today. Kids today have a different attitude.

"It's harder for kids. They're expected to do so many more things. They don't have any experience, yet have to make some pretty hard decisions."

Norman, an avid golfer, plans to take it easy in retirement.

"I really don't have any big plans," he said. "My brother is retired, so we'll probably do some golfing. I'm sure my wife will have a long list of things for me to do around the house, too."