Thoughtful Stewardship and Care
This year LEAF is featuring blogs from our Board members and volunteers sharing why they give their time and talents in service to District 742 students. Today’s blog is from Beth Fenstad, our LEAF Board Vice President.
After 32 years teaching at Tech High School I’m a Tiger through and through, with orange and black running through my veins. But my allegiance to the Tigers and all of 742 pales in comparison to that I have for some of my mentors and role models. A good example is Bruce Hentges, the founder of LEAF, who took his love for the district and his problem-solving skills to the next level in 2002 when he made sure middle school students in 742 would be able to participate in activities and athletics.
More than thirty years later I serve on the LEAF board to continue Bruce’s vision of bringing access to all students in 742. Today we face a barrage of statistics on students’ declining mental and physical health as well as troubling data on social isolation and the negative effects of technology. This news can be frightening and discouraging to “old people” like me, but giving up or turning away wasn’t Bruce’s answer to the lack of funding in 2002, and I don’t want it to be my answer to students today.
As a board member, I’ve been able to see the inner workings of an organization dependent almost exclusively on volunteers and donors. From teachers’ classrooms to team uniforms, scholarships for graduates to support for students in transition— it’s amazing to see what is possible when a community collectively embraces its students and schools. I’ve benefited from witnessing firsthand the thoughtful stewardship, intentionality, and care given to extend LEAF’s mission.
As a student, my fondest memories and perhaps my most significant personal growth came from participation in the arts and athletics. Similarly, as a parent, I relished watching my three children enjoy character-building, FUN experiences in band, speech, skiing, dance, lacrosse, National Honor Society, cross-country, basketball, soccer, football, and tennis in 742. We are grateful for this district and for LEAF. It’s my turn to be a problem-solver, pay LEAF back, and enjoy watching other students and families flourish.