BENICIA HIGH SCHOOL Vice Principal Ron Wheat was honored Monday for his 35 years with the district.
Keri Luiz/Staff
❒ BHS Vice Principal Ron Wheat among those feted at school year-opening social
By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor
A veteran educator and longtime vice principal at Benicia High School was among those honored Monday by Benicia Unified School District in its annual start-of-year social.
Ronald Wheat and many of his colleagues were feted during the event that recognizes longevity and simultaneously welcomes new employees.
Wheat, saying he was deeply honored, added that through the years he has seen some of his students grow to adulthood, then take up the same profession he chose long ago.
HENDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Principal Carin Garton, left and Office Manager Uilani Osborne at the school year-opening social Monday.
Keri Luiz/Staff
“Many teachers that will be here today were former students of mine,” he said.
Asked how it made him feel to see former students now sharing the halls with him as a teacher, Wheat said, “wonderful. Because maybe somehow you made an impact on their life to draw them into the profession that I’m in.”
Wheat spent 25 years in the classroom, teaching mathematics and social sciences. He also coached baseball for 23 years and football for nine, in addition to being an athletic director for 18 years.
He was also student activity director for four years.
Wheat was honored Monday because the district bestows its recognition in five-year increments. Yet after 35 years, he said, “I’m still not the longest-tenured person in the district.”
But Wheat acknowledged that being singled out made for a special day.
And he said he hasn’t lost his love for his job.
“I’ve enjoyed every day I come to work, for 35 years,” he said. “Every day is a new experience.”
The others recognized Monday at Weddings at the Arsenal, 940 Tyler St., were those completing 30 years, Kerry Williams, Michael Mullikin and Suzanne Huddleston; 25 years, Gertrude Weant, Jo Ann Severson, Ronald Garcia, Margaret Bishop, Susan Watts, Kimberly Hicks, Gayle Costanza and Chris Archer; and 20 years, Debra Shelton, Patricia Sawicki and Patty Hall.
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What a wonderful man! Ron not only is my brother-in-law, but we ALL consider him our friend. He deserves every bit of recogition that happens to come his way. He has dedicated his life to Benicia High and to the community itself. I am proud to be able to say I even know him…
I graduated from BHS 20 years ago and liked Mr. Wheat a lot. Wasn’t the Board supposed to can him or something? What happened with that?
Apparently they came to their senses to the benefit of Benicia High for sure.