Schools
Tartan Teachers Headed For Beijing After Getting Two-Year Leave
Husband-and-wife Tartan High School teachers Daniel and Sheryl Krengel were denied their request for a five-year leave to teach overseas, but they got a two-year leave instead.
Two teachers are Beijing-bound after reaching a compromise solution with District 622 leadership that will let them take a two-year leave of absence from their positions.
Daniel and Sheryl Krengel were originally denied a request for a five-year leave of absence to teach overseas, but after the Krengels and others raised concerns about the denial the administration polled principals and came up with the compromise, Daniel Krengel said in an e-mail.
“We appreciate our union support and especially our high school principals—John Bezek at Tartan and Greg Nelson at North—who truly value what an overseas-experienced teacher can bring to the classroom and district,” said Daniel Krengel, a speech teacher. “These two individuals stood with us in the face of what I am certain was strong opposition from their superiors.”
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Bezek said he was happy everything worked out in the end.
“I look at it different than somebody leaving for another job,” he said. “They’ll be able to come back and relay that experience to the kids—that’s what I’m hoping.”
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The Krengels also got support from colleagues and students, Daniel Krengel said. There was even a Facebook page created to advocate for their cause. Former and current students started the page, according to its information section, and through it encouraged others to contact district administrators in support of Daniel and Sheryl Krengel, who is Tartan’s Business Professionals of America advisor and internship coordinator.
The husband-and-wife educators took a similar leave of absence from 2004 to 2006 to teach in Uzbekistan. Daniel Krengel has said that the experience provided them with extra training opportunities and a breadth of experience they were able to share with students.
Although the teachers are glad their fight is over, they’re disappointed they’ll only get two years to pursue overseas opportunities rather than five, Daniel Krengel said.
“Nonetheless, we look forward to what we can experience and what we can bring back to our students here,” he said.
The couple plans to be in Beijing by Aug. 1.
