Rodericks work to improve Warren Co.

BY DENNIS BARTLOW
Commercial-News

WILLIAMSPORT, Ind. June 23, 2008 11:39 am

— Terry and Dee Roderick have pleasant memories of their time in Warren County.
Technically, Terry is superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Warren County until the end of the month, but the Rodericks already have left the Hoosier state.
They have moved to Florida to a home they built in a retirement community south of Orlando.
The Rodericks never regretted the moved from northern Illinois to Warren County, which put them closer to family in the Danville area.
“We had family in the area,” Terry said. “Both of our boys had graduated from high school, and we were a little freer. We drove down here and drove around Warren County. We decided to move back to the area. They welcomed us here in 1995. We couldn’t have been happier.”
His wife agreed.
“We have loved the community,” she said.
Both were instrumental in getting grants for the county.
“In this county people work together,” Terry said.
When Dee was Williamsport librarian, one of her goals was to build a new library. She sought a $800,000 grant from the Warren County Foundation and got $450,000. Then in conjunction with the school district a $500,000 Community Alliances to Pro-mote Education grant.
“Then we were on our way,” Terry said.
Only $350,000 was need from a bond sale.
The new library was built, but unfortunately it was damaged by fire two years ago, but reopened last fall.
“In this community, the library offers computers, meeting rooms and educational opportunities,” Dee said.
“The library is the hub of the town,” Terry said.
The Warren County Learning Center is a part of the library. They offer GED and enrichment classes.
Terry always wanted to go into education; his father was a principal at Rossville, Ill.
“I was around education,” he said. “I wanted to be a teacher.”
He was torn between social studies and band.
“I chose band, and I coached tennis,” he said. “I never thought of administration.”
With the success of his band program at Rochelle, Ill., an administrator asked him to think about going into administration.
“Teaching is rewarding, you can make a difference,” he said. “It has been real rewarding in Warren County because of the grants.”
Terry loved to show off the Patriot Activity Center adjacent to Seeger Memorial High School which is available at no cost to Warren County residents.
One of his final projects was having a test wind tower erected at Seeger to see if there is enough wind to provide needed energy for the Seeger/Warren Central Elementary School complex.
“Our school works together,” Terry said. “It has been fun.”
Assistant Superintendent Ralph Shrader, who will become superintendent on July 1, said Roderick left his mark on Warren County.
“It is difficult to put into words what he did in such a short time,” Shrader said. “We saw many changes, especially through grants, that improved our facilities. He left his mark on this district.”
Roderick lists the appearance of his Rochelle band at a Chicago Bears football game in Soldier Field as a highlight of his teaching career, but he enjoyed his administrative work in Warren County as Seeger principal and as superintendent.
“Look what we can do with other leaders in the community,” Terry said. “Being able to build the PAC was big.”
The Rodericks met in a college career class at First Baptist Church in Danville and were married there in 1969.
Terry will remember his school work on both sides of the state line.
“I have always enjoyed working with kids,” he said.

TERRY RODERICK
Position: Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Warren County in Indiana
Age: 64
Education: Graduate of Bismarck High School, bachelor of science degree in music education in 1966 from Illinois State University; master’s degree in 1969 from the University of Illinois and educational specialist degree in 1986 from Northern Illinois University
Experience: Music teacher at South View Middle School and assistant band director at Danville High School, 1967-69; band director at Oregon High School, 1969-70; band director at Rochelle High School, 1970-84; principal of Rochelle Junior High School, 1984-86; principal of Rochelle High School, 1986-95; principal of Seeger Memorial High School, 1995-2001; superintendent of the Warren County School District, since 2001

DEE RODERICK
Position: Director of the Warren County Learning Center
Age: 59
Education: Graduate of Oakwood High School, some classes at Kishawakee Junior College and Danville Area Community College
Experience: Human resources for the Del Monte regional office in Rochelle; librarian and media specialist, Rochelle Elementary School; volunteer at Williamsport Elementary School; librarian at the Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library, 1997-2001; director of Warren County Learning Center, since 2002