Latest / Inside the OSD / S2 E21 - A Crystal Apple Ft. Mike Derrick and Nina Andreev

Transcript

S2 E21 - A Crystal Apple Ft. Mike Derrick and Nina Andreev · Inside the OSD

• 0:00
  SPEAKER1: Today we are talking about a long time Oregon teacher and somewhat of a celebrity, who was recently awarded the prestigious Crystal Apple Award.
• 0:10
  It's going to be a great conversation with OHS art teacher, Mike Derrick, and one of the students who nominated him for this honor.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids.
• 0:24
  Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER1: Welcome to Inside the OSD.
• 0:34
  I'd like to start with where this all started.
• 0:37
  We're going to be talking with Mr.
• 0:38
  Derrick about his award today.
• 0:40
  And I want to begin with the nomination process and one of our students who submitted a nomination.
• 0:46
  Nina, could you begin by introducing yourself to our listeners?
• 0:50
  SPEAKER3: Hi. My name is Nina Andreev.
• 0:52
  I'm a senior this year.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER1: Thank you. Have you been here all four years?
• 0:59
  Yes. Did you take art all four years?
• 1:01
  SPEAKER3: I did, you.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER1: Did? Oh, that's awesome to hear about.
• 1:04
  So talk about the nomination process and what was involved.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER3: So, every year, um, Mr.
• 1:13
  D offers us to fill out this form for NBC, and it's the Crystal Apple application
• 1:23
  or process and --
• 1:26
  SPEAKER1: Saying like, if you want to nominate a teacher, here's the thing, that kind of thing?
• 1:29
  SPEAKER3: Yeah. Cool. And so he usually says, "don't nominate me.
• 1:34
  Like I -- pick your favorite teacher." And he genuinely means I like that.
• 1:39
  And um, this year I really thought about it.
• 1:44
  And I believe Mr.
• 1:47
  D is my favorite teacher.
• 1:49
  And so as I fill out the form, you kind of just write a little paragraph and submit it.
• 1:56
  And I was like, so surprised.
• 2:00
  I was really happy when I found out that, like, I played a role in this.
• 2:07
  You played a big
• 2:08
  SPEAKER1: role in this. This is pretty cool.
• 2:10
  So why was that important for you to do it?
• 2:15
  SPEAKER3: Um, I mean, I did it every year, but I just feel like, you know, if there's a chance that they can get it, then I might as
• 2:24
  well do it and just speak from my heart.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER1: All -- I really -- I really like that.
• 2:31
  It's about speaking from your heart.
• 2:32
  And if something good comes from it, great, right?
• 2:36
  So what else do you want to share about Mr.
• 2:38
  Derrick? What did you put in the nomination?
• 2:41
  Let's hear about that.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER3: So in the little paragraph I wrote, I kind of just explained how I feel like he's like really dedicated
• 2:52
  to his job.
• 2:53
  And I think that Mr.
• 2:56
  D like tries to get to know everyone personally and he like, helps out students a lot.
• 3:06
  And so I just think-- and he's -- he's worked here for a really long time.
• 3:13
  So I think that shows that he --- he's in it -- his job.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER1: Yeah. Yeah that's lovely.
• 3:20
  And you know I think every teacher tries to--to create a sense of connection.
• 3:24
  But sometimes certain teachers you just feel it more, right?
• 3:28
  Yeah. Yeah. And this is an example of you just feeling that connection to a greater level.
• 3:33
  And that's a pretty great thing.
• 3:34
  So now I'd like to turn to you, Mr.Derrick.
• 3:37
  You are a longtime educator, as Nina mentioned in our school district.
• 3:42
  And many people know you.
• 3:44
  Um, and that is very evident by all of the notes of congratulations that came out when your award was announced.
• 3:52
  But for many people, they have not had the pleasure of meeting you yet.
• 3:56
  So could you introduce yourself to our listeners, including your background as an OSD educator?
• 4:02
  SPEAKER4: All righty. I am, uh, Michael Derrick, and I am an art teacher here at the high school.
• 4:08
  And next year will be my 30th year.
• 4:12
  Wow. And so I started back in '95.
• 4:17
  Um, I was hired in the -- I was hired just about this time of year.
• 4:21
  I remember coming in and students were taking finals and, and, uh, that's how I got started.
• 4:28
  I came from -- I had taught a couple years down in Illinois.
• 4:31
  Okay. That's where I got my start when I graduated from UW-Whitewater.
• 4:35
  And at that time when I graduated, I -- be honest, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to be a teacher.
• 4:41
  I had gotten an art degree with, um, graphic design, and, uh, I actually was, um, that summer I went to a couple
• 4:51
  different job interviews, some for teaching, and then one of the kind of interesting ones was down on Michigan Avenue for ad agency.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER1: Oh, talk about different opportunities.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER4: Yeah. And that was right across the street from the Art Institute.
• 5:04
  Wow. Um, but I went down there for two interviews, and that's a whole 'nother.
• 5:08
  That would be another long podcast.
• 5:10
  Um, I just really kind of found out I was not a big city kid.
• 5:16
  Yeah, and that was not the lifestyle I really wanted.
• 5:19
  And so I decided to take a teaching job, and then that kind of all snowballed from there.
• 5:25
  It sure
• 5:26
  SPEAKER1: did. Who was the principal when you were hired?
• 5:28
  The principal here at at the high school?
• 5:30
  SPEAKER4: Again, that's kind of a funny story, too.
• 5:33
  Um, I was actually hired by Jackie Potter, who was an associate principal.
• 5:39
  Um, but I didn't know who the principal was because he was not around.
• 5:45
  Um, I think he had some health issues.
• 5:47
  Oh, so he
• 5:48
  SPEAKER1: was gone for that
• 5:49
  SPEAKER4: time. Gone. And so I got hired by Jackie Potter and and, uh, that whole summer, she kind of, like, introduced me to the building.
• 5:57
  I'd come in and get stuff ready, and, uh, that was kind of funny.
• 6:01
  So about two months into the school year, she's like, "well, have you met the principal yet?" and I'm like, "what are you talking about?" I thought it -- it
• 6:10
  was her.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER5: So.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER4: I was -- i thought she was joking.
• 6:13
  I thought she was giving me a hard time.
• 6:15
  You know, one of those new guy initiation things.
• 6:18
  And so I said, "what are you talking about?" You know, so she took me in and introduced me to Mr.
• 6:24
  Voss.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER1: Got it.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER4: Got it. Yeah. So he was the principal when I first started, but I thought it was Jackie Potter.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER1: Well, okay, that means Jackie Potter was doing a great job because she was the -- she was the one making sure you were happy in your new home.
• 6:38
  Yeah. And you must be happy because you've been here 30 years, so.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER5: Yeah.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER4: Yeah, it was that summer was really interesting because I remember when I first came here, like, I didn't even want to drive in Madison because I found out,
• 6:51
  like, like I said, down in Chicago, I did not really like driving.
• 6:54
  And I thought Madison was a big city.
• 6:55
  So, um, but she was awesome.
• 6:58
  She -- i remember her actually calling my mom.
• 7:01
  Really? Yeah. Because I was -- for that summer, I went back and stayed at my home-- hometown.
• 7:07
  Um, my dad had passed away when I first graduated from college, and so that was part of the reason I, I decided to even answer an application which the
• 7:17
  application for the Oregon School District was in the State Journal.
• 7:21
  My mom saw it.
• 7:22
  And so, boy, times have changed.
• 7:23
  Yeah, yeah. And so I called the school district and got a, um, application sent to me in Illinois.
• 7:31
  And I got there on Thursday and it was supposed to be due on Friday, so I typed it really quick.
• 7:38
  It probably -- I'm sure it's probably in a file somewhere, but it probably has a lot of white-out and stuff on it because -- I should go
• 7:44
  SPEAKER5: back and see if it
• 7:44
  SPEAKER1: is. That'd be fun.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER4: I'm not a, um, I am not a typist at all.
• 7:49
  Um, so there was a lot of white-out and stuff on it.
• 7:51
  So I drove up from Illinois on a Thursday night.
• 7:55
  My cousin was living in Madison, and, uh, I was like, "well, can you take that to, um--" and I asked if he could take it into the into the main
• 8:04
  office. You know, he's like, "well, I can't, I got work" and I'm like, "oh my gosh, what am I going to do?" I did all this and I'm like, and he--he was a big
• 8:13
  football fan.
• 8:14
  And he goes, "I know the head coach of, um, Oregon's football team." Oh, wow.
• 8:19
  So the first person I ever met in Oregon technically was Bob Prahl.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER5: Wow! Yes, I called him.
• 8:26
  Yes.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER4: We looked him up in the old fashioned phone book that was like, you know, a foot thick.
• 8:32
  And, uh, so I called him, and he's like, "well, I'm not really the person you need to speak to," but he told me who I should call, which was at that time, Cal
• 8:41
  Callaway.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER5: I remember Mr. Callaway.
• 8:44
  Yeah.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER4: He was a, uh, the head curriculum guy.
• 8:47
  Yes. And so he gave me his phone number.
• 8:49
  So I called him. And this is like at 9:00 on Thursday night, and I kind of called and said, "well, I'd like to apply," but I said.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER5: I can't get there.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER4: "I can't get there." And, uh, you know, "I won't make it in time." And he offered to let me bring it to his house, so I drove we drove into Oregon.
• 9:07
  No GPS or anything at that time.
• 9:09
  Right. So we're trying to figure out how to get get to his house.
• 9:12
  He lived, like, in a little subdivision.
• 9:14
  And, uh, I just remember, uh, we went to the door and he kind of came out and he looked kind of, I'm going to say kind of gruff, maybe, you know, not real
• 9:23
  happy that I was at his house at like 9:30 and his wife was peeking out of the curtains like trying to see.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER5: Is it safe? Yeah.
• 9:31
  Like, who's this?
• 9:32
  SPEAKER4: Who's this person coming? I remember when I went back to the car, I'm like, I went to my cousin.
• 9:37
  "Well, we can head out.
• 9:38
  I won't ever be working in this town."
• 9:41
  SPEAKER5: And lo and
• 9:42
  SPEAKER4: behold! Lo and behold, so he was actually he was actually the second step in the, um, interview process.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER1: You know, it sounds like it was much more personalized in the low tech era, right?
• 9:55
  Like showing up at somebody's house.
• 9:57
  There's a part of me that wishes there was a piece of that we could reclaim, you know, a lot of connection.
• 10:03
  Well, I was fortunate to be present when you received this award, and the presentation was a surprise.
• 10:09
  Oh, yeah. Pretty cool how that happened.
• 10:11
  But Mr. Pliner kind of acted as the decoy, and he needed to meet you and kind of lure you back, um, to the art gallery by saying you were going to his office
• 10:20
  to discuss, i think it was like department allocation or something like that.
• 10:24
  Right. And instead, when you got to the art gallery, it was quite a surprise and the award was presented.
• 10:30
  So walk us through that experience, please.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER4: I was set up pretty good.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER5: Um.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER4: It was a huge surprise.
• 10:38
  I mean, such an honor.
• 10:39
  I mean, I like--I mean, as you were there, I really had a hard time talking at first, but the whole process of, you know, thinking I was just going to a
• 10:48
  meeting, you know, and then my kind of goofy personality when he's on the radio and I asked for a wheelchair ride, um, probably wasn't, you know, I
• 10:58
  don't know how that looked, you know, uh, but when I, when I start walking down, you know, I still thinking I was going to the--
• 11:08
  SPEAKER5: Yeah.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER4: And, you know, when you look back. I'm kind of like, well, not all these pieces kind of fell together, but, uh, and he's like, "well, let's go in here." And
• 11:16
  I--it's even on the recording because like when Panther Vision did their little thing, it was, yeah, you can hear me say, "I'm supposed to be in here?" You
• 11:24
  know, because I was like, "why?
• 11:25
  Why do you want me to go in there?" And because I'm very protective and possessive of the art gallery, I put a lot of time into it.
• 11:35
  And so I was like, "why are the lights on?
• 11:36
  Why are the people in there?" Because we were trying to get ready for another show.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER5: Right?
• 11:39
  SPEAKER1: You didn't want people to mess with your show.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER5: Yeah. No. So I was like.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER4: So we walked in and then it was like all these people, everybody was staring at me and I was like.
• 11:49
  And then like, you know, like in slow motion, you start picking out things.
• 11:53
  So at first I, the first thing I noticed was all the students.
• 11:57
  And then I'm like-- with all the
• 11:58
  SPEAKER1: balloons and
• 11:58
  SPEAKER5: such. Yeah.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER4: And, and you know, and everyone's kind of just smiling at me and I, and I and I started looking around.
• 12:05
  Well, then I saw the camera and then I saw my, my wife and son behind it.
• 12:09
  And I was like, you know, my wife had me all set up.
• 12:12
  She said he was going to the orthodontist to have a mold made for braces, which I now I found out that that's not even a thing.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER5: They totally made that up.
• 12:21
  I thought she did
• 12:22
  SPEAKER4: a good job. I fell for that.
• 12:24
  Um, but then.
• 12:26
  Then I started seeing you and the administrators, and I was worried I was in trouble, and.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER5: I was like-- I don't usually
• 12:32
  SPEAKER1: film that.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER5: Yeah, that's good, good, good.
• 12:36
  But, uh, yeah.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER4: I have to remember that.
• 12:40
  But, uh, you know, then it kind of all started clicking and then and then it really kind of hit when, you know, Leigh Mills stepped out.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER5: Yeah, yeah.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER4: Had the crystal apple.
• 12:49
  But um, that was that would be a highlight i don't think I'll ever forget from teaching.
• 12:55
  I mean, when it comes from the students, I mean, yeah, I've gotten a few other awards, but I mean, when it comes from students, that's just so special.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER1: Well, okay, you this really leads to this.
• 13:07
  So what does it mean to you to have received this honor to hear from your students?
• 13:11
  Students like Nina talk about the process and the importance of nominating you.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER4: It's--it's very overwhelming.
• 13:19
  I mean, I can't even explain how much of an honor it is.
• 13:22
  And and if I start going in too deep, I'll start choking up.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER5: Um.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER4: It's a very emotional thing.
• 13:30
  Yeah. And, uh, so I've had a lot of awesome students that have made me look good over the years.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER1: So a lot of talented people.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER5: Yeah. I mean.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER4: I spent a lot of time at school doing different things, and, and, uh, I, I think about all the people I
• 13:48
  know. But then, like, with this happening, like, I've realized how many people--I don't know, it's pretty amazing.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER5: So.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER1: Well, just so--for the listener to imagine we're, we're in a workroom off of the classroom, and it's filled with posters of teams
• 14:05
  and artwork that students have created.
• 14:08
  And it really is-- it just kind of pays tribute to the fact that you have connections with kids in multiple areas.
• 14:15
  It's art, but it's also athletics.
• 14:17
  You've made a lot of connections through that route, too.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER5: Oh, there's--
• 14:20
  SPEAKER4: There's been so many cool students, like, I mean, in the art world, having a student that, you know, worked in the film industry, you know, I had one student
• 14:29
  that, uh, Amber who, uh, ended up working for, I believe it was DNA animations.
• 14:36
  And they were doing, um, I think they made ant bully the movie.
• 14:42
  The animated movie. Wow.
• 14:43
  And, uh, she would send me emails and go, "guess what I'm doing today?" And I'd be like, "I don't know." And she's like, "I'm going to the airport to pick up
• 14:51
  Tom Hanks."
• 14:53
  SPEAKER5: I'm like, "that sounds kind of fun.
• 14:56
  Kind of fun."
• 14:58
  SPEAKER4: You know, I have a very exciting job, but I, um, I don't know, quite that exciting.
• 15:03
  But, uh, you know, and I got a student that designed the video game of the year.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER5: Oh, wow.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER4: And, uh, one, one girl in animation, Jen Zernick is, uh, you know, did some work.
• 15:17
  Her first job out of college as a medical illustrator was working for NASA.
• 15:23
  And so now she works for a company in Madison.
• 15:27
  Um, and then when it comes to sports, I love all the--all the different people.
• 15:31
  Oh, yeah. The different things that the.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER1: Walls are covered.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER4: Yeah. I mean, uh, all of them have kind of fun stories, and I get fun stories about each of them, you know, and a lot of them I get to, uh, connect with and
• 15:43
  and stay in touch with.
• 15:44
  I mean, if there's a good thing about social media, it's kind of one.
• 15:48
  I don't know if I would have all those connections.
• 15:51
  I mean, last night was special.
• 15:53
  Um, that was cool.
• 15:55
  Meeting up with, uh.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER5: The art show was last night.
• 15:57
  Yeah.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER4: And, uh, but yes, some of them, um, and I also have the luxury now of some of these kids that are on, on the wall I work with.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER1: Oh, that is pretty cool.
• 16:08
  Yeah.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER4: So Matt Weber.
• 16:10
  Yes, I followed, you know, he went to the same school I did.
• 16:14
  So I used to go watch him play football at Whitewater and.
• 16:17
  Wow. And now he's here and, uh, Ryan Stace and.
• 16:21
  Yeah. Rebekah Krenz.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER5: Um, yes.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER4: I'm sure if I sat for a minute and looked at it, school's getting big.
• 16:28
  A lot different than when I first started.
• 16:29
  I think
• 16:30
  SPEAKER1: Chris Prahl was
• 16:30
  SPEAKER5: here too. Chris Prahl.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER4: Yeah he's he's on there.
• 16:33
  Mhm. Um mhm. Yeah.
• 16:34
  All the Prahl boys.
• 16:36
  Um I was
• 16:36
  SPEAKER1: an associate principal for a lot of the people you're mentioning too.
• 16:39
  So I remember them fondly also.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER4: Yeah I remember you as the associate principal.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER1: So when we shared this --your honor on district social media, it truly went viral.
• 16:49
  One of the farthest reaching posts we've ever had.
• 16:52
  And so, um, that's pretty cool.
• 16:55
  Um, and that's just the social media.
• 16:57
  So I can imagine what it's been like for you to get calls and emails and in-person acknowledgments.
• 17:02
  What's that been like?
• 17:04
  SPEAKER4: Again, the best word to describe it has been overwhelming.
• 17:08
  Um, you know, I've gotten cards at home and, you know, from students that some of my I've been in touch with but like that are often
• 17:18
  like far off places and-- really?
• 17:21
  SPEAKER5: And they heard
• 17:22
  SPEAKER1: about this and sent you a card to your
• 17:24
  SPEAKER5: home? Yeah. Yeah, that's
• 17:25
  SPEAKER1: really
• 17:25
  SPEAKER5: cool.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER4: Even former staff members, I mean, it's been crazy.
• 17:30
  I don't know how else to explain it.
• 17:32
  I was at the bank the other day.
• 17:34
  I think I was telling her this, um, I was at the bank and I held the door for someone.
• 17:41
  I was -- and they kind of looked up from their stuff that they got at the bank, and they go, "well, I should be holding the door for you.
• 17:47
  You're a Crystal Apple winner."
• 17:48
  SPEAKER5: Like, Aww!
• 17:51
  well, thanks. Okay.
• 17:54
  That's really sweet.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER4: Yeah. And I mean, yesterday I like to walk the track at lunch sometimes when I get a chance trying to stay somewhat healthy.
• 18:02
  But, uh, um, Steve Staton was out there doing an interview with, uh, Frank Caruso, and.
• 18:07
  Oh, and, uh, you know, also, he stopped his interview and came over and gave me a hug and congratulated me from when he worked here and stuff.
• 18:16
  Yeah, it's yeah, my brain is stuck in overwhelming.
• 18:22
  It's it's it's.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER5: I can understand
• 18:24
  SPEAKER1: why that might
• 18:25
  SPEAKER5: be the word. Yeah.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER4: I can't imagine any other thing that could get that would have been more of an honor or a pleasure.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER1: Thank you.
• 18:35
  Is there anything else you'd like to share with our listeners?
• 18:39
  SPEAKER4: Uh, you know, I've considered myself honored to get to be here, you know, our theme in our house, because of all the things that have happened to us,
• 18:49
  has been "everything happens for a reason.
• 18:51
  " And, uh, I always try to keep a positive attitude, try to make it a fun place for the kids to be, a place where they can feel safe and be themselves and
• 19:01
  kind of express their creativity and, and do that.
• 19:04
  So, you know, so much of my life has been centered around school, you know, I mean, from my mom
• 19:14
  finding the ad in the newspaper to come in here, you know, and the reason I came was because my dad had passed away and I was hoping to be a little closer
• 19:20
  to where I grew up and, uh, to even--I literally met my wife, um, because of the school.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER1: Oh, that's--a that's a great way to end it.
• 19:31
  That's, that's a happy thing.
• 19:33
  Thank you both.
• 19:36
  Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at OregonSD.Org
• 19:45
  /podcast.
• 19:47
  You can find this podcast anywhere you can find podcasts.
• 19:51
  Make sure to subscribe if you're listening on one of these apps to get notifications on the most recent episodes.
• 19:57
  We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD, where it's all about the kids.