POST FALLS - Donagene Turnbow has served on the Post Falls School Board for 20 years, but she said the joys of watching students succeed never gets old.

"I have a passion for children," she said. "I want all children to have the opportunity to receive a quality education and become great citizens. They are the future of our country."

Turnbow's service is admired by district officials especially since her two sons Kory (Class of 1994) and Kyle (2003) graduated years ago from Post Falls High.

She was appointed to the board in June 1995 and served as the vice chairwoman from 1998 to 2002, when she became chairwoman.

Turnbow has also been a classroom volunteer in the school district since 1982.

"I still see kids and parents from years ago," she said. "That is reason enough to volunteer."

Her current assignment is reading to students at Seltice Elementary.

She has served youth in several other capacities, including Boy Scouts, parent-teacher associations, district committees and soccer.

Why do you continue to serve on the school board even though your kids are long gone from the district?

Every child deserves to attend school and feel they are cared about and can be successful. I feel I have made a difference in the lives of children and I truly care about each and every child in our district. There is still work to be done to continue moving our district forward and provide opportunities for our students. As long as that passion is still in my heart I will continue to serve our students, teachers, administrators and staff in some capacity.

You attend a lot of school events as a school board member. What's that like?

I try to attend events at all grade levels. When appointed to the board, I told myself I needed to be involved or don't take the job. It is a commitment to serve and I enjoy seeing the students engage in learning and participating in activities such as choir concerts, band concerts, drama performances, sporting events, skate nights, induction into National Junior Honor Society, food and clothing drives, reading to students during Dr. Seuss week, attending school carnivals, DARE graduations, student assemblies, graduations, staff retirements and the list goes on. I try to attend as many events as my schedule allows. I have the opportunity to interact with our teachers and students. The students get to know me as a person and then as a board member.

What are the biggest challenges facing the school district?

The biggest challenge the district is facing right now is facilities. Post Falls is a district that has continued to grow when many districts statewide have experienced declining enrollment. With the passage of the bond on March 10 we can begin to address the facility issues. We will be adding two classrooms to West Ridge Elementary. River City Middle School was built as a starter middle school. We will be adding the second story of classrooms, which was the plan when the school was initially built. We built what was needed at the time knowing that down the road we would need the additional classrooms. Next on the list is the high school that will finally get the performing arts auditorium and the second gym. We will build a new elementary school as well as updates to Mullan Trail and Frederick Post. Additionally, we will be upgrading security systems districtwide and various other smaller projects will be completed.

Why are these improvements needed now?

With the downturn in the economy and budget cuts from the state for the past several years it is time to get back on track with maintenance projects, the purchase of curriculum materials, the purchase of buses and more. It will take time, but our community has stepped up with the passing of the bond to start the process of getting back on track.

What other issues are taking place?

School safety is always a top priority - making sure we keep our students and staff safe. Another area I see as a need is to raise teacher salaries. In the next several years we could have a teacher shortage with teachers retiring and a shortage of teachers coming out of college. We can't educate without teachers.

How have schools changed from when you first started serving on the board until now?

Since becoming a board member, schools have changed with the implementation of No Child Left Behind, ISATs (Idaho Standard Achievement Tests), state standards, Idaho Core and unfunded mandates. We have given our teaching staff many more duties and responsibilities. They are teaching more without any additional instruction time. I have seen a large change in the needs of our students over the years. Teachers used to teach. Now they are counselors, psychologists, nurses, caretakers and more.

What are your opinions - good, bad or otherwise - of where the school system stands today?

It is my opinion that we are providing great instruction for our students and student performance is very good. In light of the struggles we have had with budget cuts, we have not cut student programs. However, with that said, there are gaps in the chain to excellence. We still have students who are struggling because life circumstances are playing a part in their ability to learn and thrive. Over the course of the last several years I personally have seen more students struggling because of their life circumstances. As a district, we have to find a balance where we are challenging our highest-achieving students but working with our students who are struggling. When you are given lemons, make lemon bars.

What do you do as a volunteer at Seltice Elementary?

When I volunteer in the classroom, I read with third- and fifth-grade students. It is rewarding to see the improvements the students make over the course of the school year. I help teachers with special projects when asked. Anything I can do for a teacher to make their job easier is a win-win situation for our students. No job is too big or too small. I am just happy to help where I can.

How much did your upbringing have to do with who you are as a person today?

I had loving, hard-working parents and one sister who is 11 years older. They wanted my sister and I to have a better life than they had as kids. I feel that my upbringing had a huge impact on who I am as a person today. I am caring and I always try to be there to help others. I try to find the positive in things even when it isn't easy. Life is hard, but you get out of it what you put into it for the most part. I always said if I won the lottery I would take care of my children and grandchildren and give to charity and hopefully make someone else's life a little easier. I was always taught it was better to give than receive and I still feel that way today. If I have a little extra money, I prefer to buy or do something for someone else instead of me.

What's something that most people don't know about you?

Well in 1967 the Boy Scout World Jamboree was held at Farragut State Park. My dad worked for GTE (now Verizon) so by lottery I was chosen to work on site as a telephone operator that summer. I met the astronaut Scott Carpenter up close and personal.

Share some memorable moments as a school volunteer.

During one of our board visits to Prairie View Elementary several years ago, one of the first-grade students asked me how old I was. Ms. Kelsey told the student it wasn't appropriate to ask me that, but I told her I would be happy to answer his question. I told him I was 62. He told me I looked really good for being that old. Out of the mouths of babes. Age is only a number.

On one of my band trips to Vancouver I had "hall duty" from midnight to 6 a.m. because I am the one that doesn't sleep, remember. It was my job to sit in the hallway and make sure the kids stayed in their rooms. Each room had four student occupants, of which two girls wanted to go out exploring. After the third time, I told them to stay in their room and not open the door until their 6 a.m. wake-up call. Well they challenged me so I picked up all the room service trays and dishes and propped them up against the door very quietly and when the little darlings tried to escape all the trays and dishes came crashing down. Didn't see the whites of their eyes until morning and they stayed in their rooms after bed check the rest of the trip.

Every year at New Vision (alternative high school) graduation part of their requirement for graduation is to write a speech about their life experiences. Their families also speak about the struggles their students have had, but stuck with it and graduated. There is never a dry eye in the house, but most of all jubilation for the accomplishments of these students. I wouldn't miss New Vision graduation for anything.

SNAPSHOT

Meet Donagene Turnbow

Age: 65 ... born in Coeur d'Alene just before Valentine's Day, Feb. 13, 1950. Having a Valentine's Day birthday is great because I share my special day with family and friends and give them gifts. It is all about the giving.

College: Attended North Idaho Junior College on three different occasions

Family: Husband Terry. We will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary on June 13. We have two sons, Kory, 38 and Kyle, 30, and grandchildren Peyton and Cooper.

Number of hours you work in a week: Semi-retired from a legal assisting job, working 40 to 50 hours per month.

Number of hours on average you sleep in a night: Not many. My mom once told me sleep was a waste of time. I average four hours a night.

Hobbies: Sewing, crafting, cooking, bike riding, spending time with family

Favorite author: John Grisham

Favorite book: "The Velveteen Rabbit" children's novel

Favorite spectator sport: Soccer

Favorite type of music: 60s, big band

Quality you most admire in a person: Honesty

Best advice you ever received: Be true to yourself, be the best person you can be and always look for the positive.

Any one thing you consider your greatest accomplishment: Being a mom and raising my two sons.

Any one person who most influenced your life and why: My parents. They were hard-working, loving people. They always opened our home to others who were in need. It wasn't unusual to have 20 to 30 people for holiday dinners. They never wanted anyone to be alone or hungry.