The Heart of West Mineral School

Larry Reynolds writes 10 multiplication problems on the blackboard, then asks his students if they have any questions. The entire third-grade—Ricky Wilson and Junior Maynard—understands the quiz, and the fourth-grade—Ronnie Tyree—already is hard at work.

Eleven students attend West Mineral School in this Kansas town of 243. Reynolds, a 62-year-old grandfather with curly white hair and a ready smile, shepherds the flock. He’s principal, school secretary, third- to fifth-grade teacher, gym teacher, and lunchroom helper.

He’s also the retired school superintendent from the neighboring district in Columbus (pop. 3,396).

“I always said I wanted to get back to the classroom,” says Reynolds, who was born in the nearby town of Scammon. “There’s a real closeness about this school and a connection with the past. This is an experience these kids will never forget.”

Reynolds should know. He graduated from the 1930 brown brick schoolhouse in 1957. So did his wife, Kathleen, who first caught his eye in a West Mineral classroom when they were 14. Reynolds’ first teaching job in 1968 was in the same school district.

When townspeople won a reprieve six years ago to keep the school open despite dwindling enrollment in the former coal-mining town, Reynolds was offered the principal-plus position. He didn’t think twice about putting retirement on hold.

“Nobody wants to see a school close,” he says. “Parents really feel good about having their children here. First semester is drawing to a close, and I don’t think we’ve had a single complaint.” He would know—he’s also school receptionist.

“He’s like Mr. Mom to those kids,” says Sue Verren, Junior Maynard’s mother. “He’s so helped my son. Junior gets up and goes to school with no problems.”

Nine-year-old Junior gives Reynolds an A-plus, too.

“Mr. Reynolds is funny. He plays football with us and takes us on walks. He never gets mad.”

Adds Ronnie Tyree, “Once he brung us some brownies from Silver Dollar City.”

When the three boys mastered reading the book, Donald Duck and the Magic Stick, Reynolds invited their parents and grandparents and the younger students to a party. After the students showed off their reading skills, they served ice-cream sodas.

“This school has done everything in the world for Junior,” says Mrs. Verren, who beamed throughout the reading. “His reading is so improved.”

Treats such as ice-cream sodas aren’t that unusual. After all, says Reynolds, the tiny school is like a big family. He served pizza to the whole bunch at his house following a field trip. When the high school boys play basketball on Friday nights in nearby Cherokee, Reynolds loads up his kids and takes them to the games.

“My grandson just loves Mr. Reynolds,” says Jeanie Culp, grandmother of Ricky Wilson. “Ricky was behind when he came to the school, and now he’s right at third-grade level.”

Personal attention is what makes West Mineral successful, says Reynolds, adding that the students watch out for each other. “The bigger kids really look after the little ones. They just mother the three kindergarten girls.”

Missy Johnson teaches kindergarten through second grade.

Lunch is prepared at another school and hauled to West Mineral where Reynolds helps serve it.

“You want your apple cut up?” he asks each student who comes through the line.

Ronnie Tyree, meanwhile, remembers something he wants to say about his teacher. “Mr. Reynolds taught us how to play dominoes,” he says.

You can bet he sneaked a third-grade math lesson in there. And a fourth-grade one, also.

Marti Attoun is a freelance writer in Joplin, Mo., and a regular contributor to American Profile.

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