I had the pleasure and honor to be Ken Beesley Sr.’s librarian at Natchez-Adams High School.

He was an outstanding student and baseball player. Ken has devoted his entire life to educating and coaching students.

He taught a few years in the public schools and then completed his career teaching mathematics and coaching various sports at Cathedral School.

He was selected Star Teacher numerous times and has had a big influence on the lives of many students.

He is one of the best math teachers I have ever known. I attribute my daughter’s competence in math to him, and I am sure many other parents feel he helped their children, also.

He had an exceptional record in all the sports he coached. He is soft spoken, mild tempered, kind and so caring. I need to refer to the dictionary to add the needed adjectives to describe all his attributes.

He earned the utmost respect from his peers, his students and their parents.

The other educator, I would like to commend is Mike Durr.

Mike taught my child at Cathedral Elementary School. He was large in stature, so many students’ first impression was fear. After only a few visits to his class, all their fears were gone.

They found him kind and caring. My child was tiny for her age, and was not comfortable in the large desk in his room. Her feet would not touch the floor, so Mike looked in the lower-grade classrooms for a desk that would accommodate her needs. He also stopped “bullying” and excessive teasing which made students feel free to come to him with their problems.

I want to thank you both for the education you provided my child and the many others you taught at Cathedral School.

May you both enjoy a wonderful retirement!

 

Corinne Randazzo

Vidalia resident