Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Physical education teacher Randy Ogren retired this year after 25 years at the New Ulm Public Schools.

NEW ULM — Physical education teacher Randy Ogren bid farewell to Independent School District (ISD) 88 when he retired at the end of this school year.

Ogren has worked in the area since 1988, when he started substitute teaching and some coaching.

He grew up in Alexandria and went to Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls for an Associate of Arts degree, graduating in 1978.

After spending some time at the University of Minnesota, St. Cloud, Ogren took some time off school. He cited not being ready for college, so he started in the labor force.

In 1980 Ogren decided to re-enroll at St. Cloud and graduated four years later with a major in physical education and a minor in health.

“It is the one area that after dabbling in some other things, trying different majors, it is the one that seemed to fit,” Ogren said. “I really, truly enjoy working with kids and so I thought ‘perfect fit’ so that is the direction I went.”

Later he would turn the health minor into a major and gain a license for developmentally adapted physical education (DAPE) at Mankato State University.

Ogren and his wife Sharon went to California in 1987, where he did some subbing. They decided it was not the life for them and when Sharon got a job in the New Ulm area they moved back to Minnesota, he was hired full-time a few years later in 1992.

Over his 25 years at the district Ogren said he feels his job has become increasingly impersonal. He does not get as much face time with the students as he once did.

“You do not have the time to spend with the kids and get to know them the way you used to,” Ogren said. “When I started here they had phy ed five days a week for 25 minutes. Then it cut back to three days a week, then it went to four days a week and now it has just been juggling back and forth.”

Instead he found his time increasingly filled with paperwork and professional obligations or “hoops to jump through,” Ogren said.

Those changes influence Ogren (who described himself as “old school”) in deciding now was the time to leave.

He still reflected on his time at ISD 88 largely positively. His favorite aspect being a different kind of change that he was privy to.

“I think the thing that I probably truly enjoyed more than anything is being able to see the growth of the kids from one year to the next and to the next,” Ogren said.

Spending most of his time in the Washington Learning Center (WLC) Ogren taught mostly fourth through sixth-graders.

The phy ed teacher also spent time as a building representative. His time working with the union helped him get a broader idea of how the district functions, Ogren said.

“I think one of the things about teaching that I am glad I got involved in was with the teachers’ union,” Ogren said.

He said that parents should get involved and learn more about what happens at a district level. Ogren suggested listening to multiple people to get a better idea of what is actually happening.

He also suggested parents could help by advocating for teachers when the teachers feel shut out of the decision-making process.

“I think communication is one thing that really needs to improve here,” Ogren said. “From the top down communication is not always the best. I know teachers’ voices are not always heard or listened to, even though we are right in the trenches with the kids and it is a frustrating thing for teachers.”

It is a problem that is not restricted to only New Ulm, Ogren said.

Despite his criticisms Ogren still looks back on his time at District 88 as positive.

“I wish everybody the best of luck in the future,” Ogren said. “This is a good district. The kids are awesome, the staff is awesome and I have truly, truly enjoyed my 25 years here teaching and coaching. I really have and I am thankful for that.”

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.