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Longtime educator Susan Reid tries something new at El Dorado

Sports reporter

For 34 years Susan Reid has worked in the Marion-Florence school district.

Sometimes even she can't believe it.

"Holy cow! Can you imagine 34 years in the same district," the Florence resident exclaimed when thinking back on her teaching days.

It was a hard decision, but in the end it was the right one.

"It's real tough to leave the people you work with, your friends," she said.

However, as of Aug. 1, Reid, the former Marion-Florence library media specialist, will take a position at El Dorado High School.

The 5A school has as many students as the entire Marion-Florence district.

"You just take it one student at a time," she said with a smile.

A new challenge

When Reid left Kansas State University in the early 1970s with a degree in education, her first job was in Florence teaching seventh and ninth grade students math and science.

When the district decided to combine both schools into one at Marion, Reid came to continue to teach.

In 1999 she changed her scenery by becoming the library media specialist at Marion High School.

The year before there were only two computers, but during Reid's first year the school upgraded to 20. Now the high schoolers have 24 laptops to choose from, not counting numerous desktops.

"Research has definitely changed over the years," Reid said of the influx of computers and the Internet.

Her job changed as well a few years later when the librarian position at Marion Elementary School became open. Reid eventually assumed operation of that library as well.

She was usually at the high school, but not if they needed her at MES.

"If there was a problem I dropped my things and went over," she said.

During her eight years as media specialist, Reid handled all the orders for teachers' book lists, watched over the computers, and tried to "find the right book, for the right student, at the right time."

Reid said her time working at the school was challenging and rewarding.

"Working here everyday, there is always something different," she said.

As much as she's seen these past 34 years, it's hard to put something by her.

"You're going to have to get up pretty early to pull something that hasn't happened already," she said with a laugh.

Library science

Living in Florence Reid knew the drive to El Dorado wouldn't be bad, especially considering the high school is on the north side of town.

Still, even when she applied for the job she didn't know what was going to happen.

She was offered jobs this past summer but turned them down because it was too late in the year.

"At some point, you have an obligation to your district," she said.

This time however she heard back about the job earlier, and gave the school ample notice by telling them in mid- April.

The position fits the master's degree she received from Emporia State University in 1996 in library science.

It will be different from Marion-Florence because 95 percent of the students have their own laptops Reid said.

"The only thing I have to worry about is my own computer," she said.

But it is what she wants to do, and her husband Reilly and daughter Jessica support her.

Although she is excited, leaving won't be easy.

"I've been very happy with my job here," she said. "I just really love the library. It's absolutely great."

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