Colby decidedly content

Reflecting on her 36-year career in education, former Ocean View School District Supt. Karen Colby doesn’t think of whining kids or complaining parents or even the controversial circumstances under which she retired last year.

Instead, she remembers the good times.

“I always liked working with teachers and principals, and I always cared about the kids. I always took time to listen to the kids’ problems and I liked that a lot. I liked all of it,” Colby said this week.

Colby, 60, began her career in 1971 teaching English, social studies, art and girls’ physical education at Haven View Elementary School.

In 1978 she switched to Marine View Elementary, where she taught art and oversaw the Mentally Gifted Minors program until 1983, when she started working at the district office.

At the district level, Colby worked for 22 years as coordinator for the Learning Resource Center before she was promoted to assistant superintendent in 2005 and later, in 2006, took over as superintendent.

According to Louise Glenning, a coordinator for Title I and special state and federal education programs who worked closely with Colby for more than 30 years, the former teacher took easily to the district-level job and the responsibilities it entailed.

“She was the acknowledged leader among all the staff,” Glenning said of her former colleague. “You could trust that she had the information, the direction and whatever was needed so she could come through for you.”

Comments like these make it tough to understand the virtual chaos in which Colby resigned last December. Colby said she is still unclear about why the board ousted her.

“I had no power as superintendent; they took it away from me. It was odd, very odd,” Colby said, adding, “I think they were just trying to clean out all of us who had been with the district for a very long time.”

School board member John Briscoe was sworn in Dec. 5, just two days before Colby was placed on a leave of absence without cause.

Later that week, he spoke out about possible reasons for Colby’s dismissal, a move that drew criticism from some parents and educators.

When contacted Tuesday, Briscoe refused to comment further on the issue, citing a contractual agreement to say nothing disparaging about the former superintendent.

Despite the unusual circumstances of her retirement, Colby said she’s content with the way things have worked out.

“I think they did a good job to let me go and pay me, and I think it worked out well for me. I have a very positive attitude.”