Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170109
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DEVAUGHN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Age: 39, and he's getting a lot of flak from co-workers because he's turning 40 in February.
Family: Wife of 15 years, Debbie, is a secretary at Blacksburg Middle School; son, Justin is 11 and daughter, Jennifer is 9.
Hometown: Oakwood, a small community in Buchanan County
Most memorable teachers: Third-grade teacher Myrtle Miller, (she taught all but one of the six Van Dyke kids) and Spanish and journalism teacher Obra Simpson, because "she gave me a tremendous desire for learning."
Worst behavior during school: "When I was in second grade, I decided, for no particular reason, I did not want to go to school anymore. My parents could never figure out why and had a really hard time getting me to go back. Now they say they can't get me to stop going" (Van Dyke has a master's in curriculum and instruction and has just started a doctoral program in educational administration).
Favorite time of the year: "Springtime at our house." Van Dyke likes to sit on the porch or walk around the woods near his home.
Pets: A golden retriever, Emily, and a springer spaniel, Abigail.
Hobbies: Reading, writing, working with antiques and being outside. He collects rare and old books, especially those written by Henry Van Dyke (no relation), a 19th-century theologian and educator.
Dreams for the future:To travel, possibly write a book, and read. "There are so many good books out there, I'll never have time to read them all."
Anyone who has been in Blacksburg for more than a year has probably heard of Ray Van Dyke.
He's been a teacher, an administrator and now is principal of the newly constructed Kipps Elementary School.
"I started teaching in Montgomery County in 1977 as an English and journalism teacher at Blacksburg High School," Van Dyke said. "I do miss working with the older students a great deal, but I've never looked back with reget."
After leaving Blacksburg High School, Van Dyke moved to the School Board office in Christiansburg where he worked as an administrator. It was then that he decided to make the shift from teacher to principal. He was principal at Bethel and Gilbert Linkous elementary schools before coming to Kipps.
"Both here and at Linkous, I have children of previous students I've taught," he said. "It's funny to see the looks on the parents' faces, when they say, 'Remember me?'"
The high point of Van Dyke's 18-year career has been watching Kipps Elementary School be built from the ground up.
"I can walk through this building and know where the water lines are," Van Dyke said. "It's such a learning experience to see this place as starting from a cornfield to what it is now.
"The physical construction is one side, but also working with the staff" has been another high point, Van Dyke added. "It has taken many people to make the school what it is today."
by CNB