Published: May 18, 2008 01:08 am            

Pioneer’s graduation is superintendent’s final goodbye, also

By Violet Spader

Staff Writer



On Friday afternoon, Bill Noak was putting the finishing touches on the commencement address he’d been asked by students to deliver.

“I hope I can get through it,” he said at the time.

Noak, like the 27 graduating seniors, said goodbye to Pioneer-Pleas-ant Vale Public Schools Satur-day evening during graduation exercises.

After eight years as superintendent and 33 years as an educator, Noak is retiring.

“Maybe it will take this time,” he said, referring to his 1998 retirement from his post as the junior high and high school principal. He accepted the superintendent’s position at PPV two years later in 2000.

“I’ve loved every minute,” Noak said. “But it’s time to do something else.”

While he doesn’t know quite what that something else will be, he said he’d like to get out to Canton Lake a time or two.

He said most of all, he’ll miss the students and teachers he’s worked with at PPV.

Angela Reinert, salutatorian of the class of 2008, spoke about how she, too, will miss the friends she’s made in high school.

“We’ve shared a lot of fun, and I’ll miss you,” Reinert said.

She will attend Oklahoma State University next fall and plans to major in physical therapy. Her activities have included Beta Club, 4-H, band, track and basketball. She also has earned a place on the school’s honor roll lists.

Reinert is the daughter of Jerry and Carol Reinert, whom she thanked for supporting her through high school.

Valedictorian Tracey Loesch spoke about how, emotionally, kindergarten is like life.

“Thanks to my parents, David and Risa Loesch, for being great parents,” she said.

Loesch will attend OSU in the fall, and will decide on a major. Her activities have included Beta Club, 4-H, basketball, track, softball and band. She also has made the honor roll lists. She is the vice president of the class of 2008.

Loesch and Reinert are two of the many “special students” Noak said he’ll miss working for.

“I don’t work for the school board. I report to them, but I really work for the kids,” Noak said, adding his faculty at PPV have a similar focus.

Before coming to PPV in 1987, Noak taught social studies and coached boys’ basketball at Waukomis High School.

“It’s been easy to get up and go to work,” Noak said. “I’ve got no complaints. It’s been a great run.”