Dear Editor,

This is an open letter to members of the Ferndale Board of Education concerning Jack Lakin, presented on May 19.

”Twenty-five years ago I was a freshman at Ferndale High School, where Jack Lakin was my basketball coach - a coach that I respected and learned a lot from, despite the fact that he was young, inexperienced, and at times very vocal!

Jump forward to 1997 when I was hired at Eureka High School as a teacher and coach where Jack became a colleague and mentor to me as the Athletic Director and a fellow teacher. I was new and young to the teaching field and Jack graciously took the time to help me out on regular basis, both as a teacher and coach. He did most of this by being a silent yet strong role model.

Jack seemed to have the “knack” of dealing with parents, encouraging students to rise and perform to their best (both in and out of the classroom), as well as find the balance of being able to hold students accountable for their actions when poor decisions were made. He used these occasions as great teachable moments for all parties involved.

During the next few years I was able to watch as Jack became that teacher that students and teachers had the utmost respect for. He was a leader on our campus. Teachers looked to him for innovative ideas and on a regular basis would contact him to ask for his ideas about how to get students to perform and meet the standards - whether related to attendance issues, discipline issues or academic issues.

Jack became the gentle giant that we all respected on campus. Even when I was all fired up about an issue, it was Jack that would begin to ask me probing questions which would lead me to figuring out the next steps and giving me perspective.

Then Jack moved on to become an administrator. He had grown professionally over the past years and I was very happy to see him take his level head and innovative ideas to the next step as a leader where he could truly put his natural ability of developing a winning team to work. As our assistant principal, he epitomized the meaning of being team player. He worked well with staff, community members, parents, and most importantly, he never lost sight of the students.

Even in a school our size, students knew him because he took a vested interest in them. When it was time to develop the much needed attendance policy, it was Jack that spearheaded it. And not only did he help write and create it with staff, but it was Jack that delivered notices to students when they weren't meeting the expectations.

Not an attendance office staff member or an intern, but Jack would go into all the classes through out the day checking in with students (and staff). He wasn't behind his desk - he rolled up his sleeves and worked in the trenches with the teachers!

I feel like I have been given the opportunity to watch a great young and inexperienced teacher grow into a great professional empowering man - Jack Lakin.

As you consider Jack Lakin for the Superintendent/Principal position for Ferndale High School, I challenge you to you base your considerations on the last 20 years of his performance and not on bias and judgment of a young and inexperienced teacher 25 years ago. What better role model do we need for students!”

Kristie Christiansen

Red Bluff

Editor's note: Mr. Lakin has since accepted the the position of Principal/Superintendant of Ferndale High School. His first day on the job will be July 1.