Teacher/coach to retire after 42 years

They say "still waters run deep."

That would be a good description of Gary Darnold, who informed the Grand Coulee Dam School District last week that he is retiring after teaching here for 42 years.

Darnold is soft spoken, but his eyes penetrate you like he is taking your measure.

It is highly unusual for a teacher, any teacher, to spend an entire career in one district. Darnold did, and will hang it up after this year's teaching assignment.

With a bachelor's degree from Washington State University and a master's from Eastern Washington, Darnold teaches math, and has since day one back in 1976. But he does more than that; he teaches respect, kindness, dedication, and a whole lot more.

It isn't often that, in one's resignation letter, you see a teacher note that in his 42 years of teaching he has never had a "bad week."

In explaining his "kids," Darnold doesn't go into a long spiel that they are so different now compared to when he began his career.

"My students have always shown respect and been kind to me," Darnold said, laying out his feelings. Sometimes, parents are surprised when he tells them that their son or daughter is thoughtful and kind.

It's a classic case of "you reap what you sow."

In addition to his long classroom career, Darnold has about as many years in as a coach. He has long standing in cross country, where he has coached for 40 years, and also in basketball and tennis.

Some of his coaching days better show the dedication and commitment to coaching athletes. In 2000, Darnold lost his right leg after a blood clot issue, and later in 2016 his coaching was further complicated when he contracted Parkinson's disease.

But you would still find Darnold on the cross country beat, often out on the course, with his wife, Sheila, at his side.

While it wasn't easy, Darnold was always there for his athletes.

His cross country boys' team started making its mark in 1980, when it placed second in both the league and district and sixth in the state. In 1989, Darnold's boys' team was back in the mix with seconds in both the league and district, and then placed third in the state. His team was back at it again in 1992, placing second in the league and district, and then fifth in the state.

Then his team started a period of near domination; each season from 1997 to 2000, LR had a string of seconds in the league, district and fourth and fifth in the state.

LR dominated in both the league and district tournaments in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, taking both the league championship and top spot in the district events. In 2006, LR won the district title, and, in 2007, both the league and district titles.

Darnold's girls' team likewise shined. It won league championships in both 1983 and 1986, a district title in 2000, league, district and regional titles in 2001, and league and district titles in 2005. In 2012, the girls were at it again, winning league, district and regional titles.

In between, both the boys' and girls' teams did a lot of spoiling while in the mix.

The small towns here could easily remind him of where he grew up - in Colfax, Washington, the county seat of Whitman County.

That's where he met his wife, Sheila, a transplant from California. The couple has been married for over 40 years. Sheila is the lead secretary for Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School, and will be a retiree, herself, in a couple of years.

The couple have three children: Brian, in Nine Mile, near Spokane; Stephen, in Colville; and Lori, in Moses Lake.

One of the biggest changes in teaching, Darnold stated, has been technology. But the human factor remains the same for Gary, a love for his work.

The kids and district will miss Darnold, and already Superintendent Paul Turner is trying to get him to come back next year and teach one class.

"I will think about it," Darnold has replied.

The rewards in teaching are numerous, but nothing matches the feeling that you have when former students return to the school and give you a hug.

In his letter to the school board, Darnold wrote, "Thank you for the best teaching job anyone could ask for."