Waitsburg math teacher Jim Leid retires next month

Leid has spent 15 years teaching at Waitsburg High School where he graduated in 1969

WAITSBURG-For Jim Leid, advocating for students and staff has been a priority throughout his teaching career. After 15 years teaching math at Waitsburg High School, Leid will retire from teaching, but hopes to maintain a voice in the community.

Leid was raised in Waitsburg and is proud to say he has lived here is entire life here, aside from a short stint in his toddlerhood when his father, former Waitsburg Mayor Roy Leid, was stationed at Chevron in Pullman and his college years.

Leid graduated in 1969 and recalls attending a high school of 160 students.

"We had all the people from the dams, the construction people and the union people. They were great people and their kids were wonderful. And some of them came back here and stayed," Leid said.

Leid was a top athlete and is still an avid fan.

"We were a B school and played A schools because those were the schools that were closest to us," he said.

He recalls being third in state football his junior year, going undefeated 9-0.

"There were no playoffs and third is where the press rated us," Leid said.

"We were fifth in state in basketball my senior year and we went to state in Seattle because we were playing A schools. Our record was 23-2. That team was loaded! It was a memorable experience," he said.

"I'd like to thank Glyn Davis and Dick Kinart and Mel Cox for believing in us and supporting us," Leid said.

Leid attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont. where he was redshirted on a football scholarship and played defensive tackle.

He said that football was a great experience, introducing him to friends all over the world and paying for college. It is also how he met his wife, Liv, who he met on a blind date, set up by his roommate, who was a halfback on Liv's high school football team. The couple was married while they were still in college, in 1972.

"That's better than the football end of it," he said.

Leid earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education with a focus on math and political science. It would be some time before he put his degree to use, however,

He graduated college in 1974 and returned to Waitsburg where he farmed for Gerald Vollmer for 30 years.

He has always been active in the Waitsburg community as a member of the Waitsburg Historical Society, Commercial Club, the Waitsburg Alumni Association and serving on the Weller Library Board of Directors.

Leid got his teaching certification in 1998 and substituted in Prescott, Waitsburg and Walla Walla, while continuing to farm. In 2004, Jerry Scott retired from teaching high school math and Leid assumed his full-time teaching position.

Leid serves as the union president and worked with Sarah Reser and Waitsburg Education Association (WEA) representative Jim Gow to develop the collective bargaining agreement between teachers and the WEA that was adopted in 2014.

Leid makes a point to stay up on education-related legislation and continues to advocate for teachers. He recently helped ensure that teachers are able to use school district professional development hours toward required continuing education hours.

"We need a voice. Before we felt like we didn't have any choices," Leid said.

When it comes to retirement, Leid says he will most miss the interaction with the kids and the parents. The people you teach with is a huge thing, too. It's amazing. It's a wonderful group of people you work with," he said.

And the feeling appears to be mutual.

"We wish Mr. Leid a happy and well-deserved retirement.  Mr. Leid has been a huge support for our teachers as he works closely with the Washington Education Association to ensure our staff voice is heard.  He was also part of a team of teachers that worked to insure an updated math curriculum was adopted for our students and this curriculum has been utilized for the past two years.  Mr. Leid has been an asset to our WHS family and he will be missed.  We sincerely wish him a joyful retirement filled with family and friends," said high school principal Stephanie Wooderchak.

"Jim comes from a family that was always involved in the community.  He has the same heart-felt dedication to the school and community and the wish to keep them thriving.  Teaching was a way to contribute to the legacy of Waitsburg High School on a different level other than being a student (1969).  Jim will be remembered by many for his good sense of humor, his stories and staunch support of students and staff.  I know he has plans to continue being involved in the community, and I am sure that will keep him busy in retirement, while still allowing him time to enjoy family, friends and his beloved Montana Grizzly games!" said colleague Nancy Bickelhaupt.

Leid plans to use some of his newfound free time to encourage former college teammates to return to Montana and root for the Grizzlies, hopefully from the sidelines. Beyond that, he hopes to improve his golf game and get in some fishing time with buddies.

Leid said he will also running for school board as a possible means of continuing to advocate for Waitsburg School District staff and students.