30 Sep Building a Legacy One Student at a Time–Aaron Feik
Leaving a legacy is an individual as every student who goes through a teacher’s classroom–just ask Aaron Feik.
Feik’s legacy in education includes all the students (over 10,000) who went through his math and science classes over 18 years at what was then Canyon Park Junior High School and Woodinville High School; 13 years working in curriculum at the District Office directing the math and science programs; one (1) year teaching science at Northshore Junior High School; and five (5) years as NSEA President. Add to that a generous donation from the Feik Family Children Fund that helped fuel the Northshore Schools Foundation early in its history.
The Feik Family Fund donation was inspired, Feik said, by: “All the years the school board supported my employment in the district; Jack Sutherland, the board president in 1968, who made it so I had a continuing contract; and Jean Fowler (then foundation director) when the monies were given. I felt that the board, administration, teachers, parents, and students were on the same team and success of students was the desired outcome. Northshore has always been a very supportive district, which is one reason I stayed in Northshore. The Foundation was a way for all the parts to work together with providing additional resources when needed.
When Fowler asked Feik to help start the Foundation, he thought it was a wonderful idea. “The foundation is possible because of people like so many in Northshore who step in to help kids and their education. This is also one of the ways businesses can get more involved, not just with money but time.”
Feik grew up in the Northeast part of Oregon in a town called LaGrande, graduating with Degrees in Math, Science and Education in 1965, followed by a Master of Science (Physics) in 1972 from Purdue University.
As he looks back on his career, highlights he recalls include:
- President of a non-profit call Friends of the Hidden River, which built a 15,000 sq ft education center at Brightwater Treatment Plant in Bothell. “We got the $11-plus million to get it built along with an outreach center. Because of this center, education is now one of the 5 major goals of King County. This center would not have been built without the involvement of 5 teachers as stated by King County.”
- The 5 teachers who started the State Science Olympiad. “We met at Everett Community College for our first event. We held our own events in Northshore with all junior high and high schools participating. Interesting note: At the first event in Everett, Woodinville High provided over half the participants, representing 3 of 8 teams competing. We got 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place—all the teams were equal as I divided them that way.”
- Apple Award at CPJH
- Developing Math Olympiads teams throughout all our schools, many of which continue.
- Developing partnerships with businesses. An example: Technology in Education (TIE), where teachers would spend a day with different business observing what people needed to know and do. These were usually high-tech businesses. Northshore partnered with Boeing. “I worked with one of their Vice Presidents in running the program. The Science and Math Olympiad Judges were usually engineers from our community.”
- Forming the Northshore Science Advisory Committee, involving community members who believed that partnership between business and public schools profoundly affected science education. This committee hosted 3 training events for teachers at the District, Bothell High, and Skyview Junior High. Clock hours were provided.
- Worked with the University of Washington Applied Math Department in studying and providing a report on what elementary math curriculum we should adopt in Northshore. The National Science Foundation (NSF) liked the program so well, a grant was written that has provided monies for many years for UW students to work in the schools helping with their math programs.
- Received both science and math NSF grants for teacher training, over $5 million.
- Adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University.
- Served on the K-12 education committee redoing the requirements for K-12 education—Feik and 12 professors.
- Hosted many local, state, and national science and math events for teachers.
- Received many Certificates of Appreciation and Recognition but one Feik wants to share: OUT ON A LIMB for “going out on a limb” to make the first Northshore School District Science Olympiad possible. This was given to Feik by Rob Entrekin, lead engineer at Phillips, November 26, 1991.
- Meeting with textbook publishers providing input—New York City with Holt executive.
- Taking students to Washington D.C. as a field trip helping them experience their government in operation, plus all the history; did this 3 times.
- Reading grants for the Sutherland Foundation and Northshore Foundation with Lynda Humphrey. What wonderful students, very hard choices.
- Serving as president of the Northshore Education Association, the teacher union, 5 years. During that time, Feik helped negotiate into the contract language to pay teacher to coach Math and Science Olympiads.
- Worked many state legislators in getting legislation passed that supported kids and teachers. More important was getting some legislation killed.
- Getting thank you notes from so many teachers, parents, and staff in the district.
Oh, and there was that thing called the Internet Feik worked to ensure teachers and students could access.
“Aaron is a humble, quiet man,” said Lynda Humphrey, a retired Northshore administrator who worked with Feik. “I credit him with advancing math and STEM. As a teacher, he did wonderful thing for kids.”
Retirement has taken him a bit north, to Stanwood, where he lives with his wife of 43 years, Sue. While Multiple Sclerosis affects his physical doings, his mind remains sharp at age 80.
Even now, Feik continues to advocate for innovations: “Students should experience their communities through different work experiences. This would involve more businesses. Students in higher ed. should help educate our K-12 students, like spending 9 weeks as a senior experience like we developed with the Applied Math Dept students helping in the elementary schools.”
And with all that, Feik has these final words: “Thanks for all in Northshore for enriching my life.”
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Northshore Schools Foundation
The Northshore Schools Foundation is a local 501 (c)(3) local non-profit charity that serves students, and teachers in the Northshore School District located in the communities of Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville. The Foundation is funded solely by private contributions and operates separately from the Northshore School District.
We are most proud of our efforts to enrich the educational experience for students, supporting teachers, and making a meaningful contribution to public education and the community. The Foundation has granted over $3 million dollars to our schools, funding programs, and resources that benefit every student, nearly every day during their school career.
We are honored to have been voted “Best Local Non-profit” in the Best of Northshore three times; to have received the “Top-Rated” classification from Great Non-Profits and; to be a “Gold Participant” on Guidestar.
Our Mission is to raise funds and build community partnerships that enhance and inspire learning potential, remove barriers, and build skills for life, thereby amplifying District priorities for student and teacher education and excellence.