PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 22, 2018
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
McNary teacher retiring after 30 years
By DEREK WILEY
Of the Keizertimes
After McNary’s 2018
commencement, Gary Bulen
called his two older broth-
ers, both retired teachers, and
wept.
“Before I knew it I was
bawling my head off, out of
left fi eld, I lost it,” said Bulen,
who is retiring after 30 years
of teaching. “I didn’t realize
it would be that but it sure
turned into that.”
Growing up in Salem and
then going to Western Or-
egon University, Bulen didn’t
have much of a choice but
to go into education. Along
with his two brothers, Bulen’s
mom and dad also worked for
the Salem-Keizer school dis-
trict. There had been a Bulen
employed with the district
since 1955.
Gary Bulen did his student
teaching at McNary in the
spring of 1986. He was then
hired on temporarily in ‘87.
After a little over a year at
McKay, Bulen took a perma-
nent position at McNary in
‘91 and never left.
“McNary just has some-
thing magical about it,” Bu-
len said. “Every school ebbs
and fl ows and has its ups and
downs but really this is the
school that historically peo-
ple wanted to be at. It’s just
KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley
McNary history and psycholosy teacher Gary Bulen, with pictures of former students in his classroom, is retirins after 30 years in the Salem-Keizer school district.
He’s been at McNary full-time since 1991.
a really quality school with
quality kids.”
Bulen spent most of his
career in the same classroom
after becoming activities di-
rector in 1994.
“I wanted to be more in-
volved in my school and that
was one of the best choices I
ever made,” Bulen said. “You
run dances and prom and you
need volunteers. When I was
done (in 2002), I knew how
hard it was to get them so
I’m always at the prom and
dances, track meets. There’s
also a payback for it. I think
they (students) do recognize
that you do go to the plays,
that you’re around a lot help-
ing. You get a lot more back
than what you put in.”
Bulen taught psychology
and history at McNary.
Jessica King, a former stu-
dent who graduated from
McNary four years ago, re-
turned to Bulen’s classroom
to wish him well in retire-
ment.
“I had him for history my
junior year and then I chose
to take psychology my senior
year,” King said. “He’s my fa-
vorite teacher. He’s fun. He
connects with you and wants
the best for you.”
Carla Bell, a English teach-
er at McNary, had Bulen’s
current students write letters
to him.
There was one common
theme in most of the notes.
Bulen was their favorite
teacher.
One student wrote, “I’ve
had a pretty rough year this
year and I haven’t really felt
like being at school and being
in your class actually made
me want to be here.”
Another student said, “I
genuinely hope the best for
you and I hope you know
that your enjoyment of
teaching is the reason I’m
trying to go into it myself.”
“I start getting a little
emotional. It’s really special,”
Bulen said of reading the let-
ters. “If you have poor self
esteem, try retiring. It’s an
incredible ego boost. It’s so
nice to hear from kids. It’s the
whole reason we’re here.”
Bulen is looking forward
to the next phase of his life.
“I’m just really ready for
a change and to do some-
thing else, whatever it might
be,” Bulen said. “Take a little
break and do a little travel-
ing. I grew up here and all
my friends are here. As a his-
tory teacher, I do want to
go to Europe. My dad was a
World War II vet. I want to
see where he was at.”
TANDEM ® Luxury
Vinyl Plank
by TAS Flooring
3
$ 99 * / sq ft
Attached Pad. Waterproof,
20 Colors, Micro-Beveled Edges,
Low Gloss -Embossed,
The 30 years have fl own
by.
“For years you’re kind of
anticipating this and it’s pret-
ty surreal that it’s here all of
the sudden,” Bulen said. “It’s
right in front of you.”
We are
Everything
Except
Overpriced
Simple
Cremation
$875
Inexpensive Burial
and Funeral Options
Pre-Planning Available
On-Site Crematory
*Material Only, Installation Available.
Carpet Cleaning
HIDDEN CREEK
E S T A T E S
Saturday,
June 30
1 ST ANNUAL
9:00 am
to
2:30 pm
•
4930 River Rd N, Keizer 503-371-8188
ValleyFlooringCenter.com CCB #162221
•
Any Size
1-Story
Home
Any Size
2-Story
Home
$
$
1 49 **
2 49 **
**Some restrictions may apply.
4365 RIVER RD N, KEIZER
503.393.7037
Se habla español
GARAGE SALE
Sales will take place on Hidden Creek Drive, Brookhollow Court,
Parkshadow Court, Lazy Creek Drive, Whisper Creek Loop
Orthodontics for children, adolescents & adults
We love being part of the
growing Keizer community
2017
Invisalign ® and Traditional Braces
Customized Payment Plans
Sam Goesch
Ins Agcy Inc
FOR A FREE CONSULT
CALL 971.600.3836
www.haveasreatsmile.com
SCHOOLHOUSE SQUARE
5099 RIVER ROAD N, KEIZER
Sam Goesch CLU, Agent
3975 River Road North
Keizer, OR 97303
Bus: 503-393-6252
State Farm , Bloomington, IL
1211999