Geneseo High School hosted a building dedication for the Ted McAvoy Career and Technical Education Center on Tuesday afternoon.
Vocational Director Travis Mackey introduced McAvoy and provided an overview of his 35-year career at the high school.
“From 1964 to 1999, Mr. McAvoy dedicated his career to expanding opportunities for students through leadership, innovation, and service,” said Mackey. “Throughout his time as a teacher, coach, co-op coordinator, vocational director, dean, and principal, he believed that every student deserved meaningful pathways to success. His vision helped transform vocational education at Geneseo High School.”
McAvoy reflected on his career, shared stories from his journey, and expressed his appreciation for the many people who played a role in it.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to have my name on this grand facility,” said McAvoy. “When I was informed by the board that they had decided to do this, my first thoughts were about all those who made it possible for me to spend my life and my career in and around Geneseo High School, beginning with my parents.”
McAvoy continued, “They were sharecroppers on a small farm. We didn't have a lot of money, ran around and took jobs off the farm, so my brother and I went to college. I was always impressed with my dad's capability of building things, fixing things, adapting things, and making do around the farm in the neighborhood without spending a lot of money for new and improved equipment.”
As he was nearing graduation from Illinois State University, McAvoy received a call from one of his former teachers at Geneseo High School, Ed Reiser. Reiser was ready to retire, and he felt McAvoy was the perfect replacement. Superintendent Rex Millikin agreed, and McAvoy returned to teach at GHS for the 1964-65 school year, marking the beginning of a legacy of helping prepare young people for life after high school.
“There's a big difference between knowing something and teaching something, and I will always be grateful to those who taught me,” said McAvoy. “I have to admit, my not-so-secret ambition, always, from the time I decided I wanted to be a teacher, was to come to Geneseo and teach metals. Dreams do come true.”
McAvoy expressed deep gratitude for his many colleagues at the high school and throughout the Geneseo community.
“Bill Marks, who was my career partner in teaching, helped me become the teacher that I hoped to be, just by watching him and seeing what he did,” said McAvoy. “Without much instruction on his part, I learned from watching him. Bill was one of the foremost people in my career as far as me being able to do what I want to do.”
McAvoy named several others, including Rich Bassier, Steve Durian, Rich Kalupka, Bob Carroll, Chris Roegge, Bruce Smith and Gary Harlacher.
He saved his highest praise for the one person who has been by his side throughout it all, his wife, Marilyn.
“She has been the most singular contributing factor that's allowed me to succeed in all the areas of my life. Being a teacher's wife wasn't her lifelong goal, but she gave me the job, the focus of supporting whatever I wanted to do,” said McAvoy. “Marilyn raised four kids while I spent my hours teaching, coaching, and then farming. When we were able to achieve our goal and bought our own farm, she spent, and still does, hours in the field with tractors and equipment to drive a lot of dirt and grime and dust and grime and grain dust and so forth.”
The dedication also celebrated the bright future of the trades in the Geneseo school district. McAvoy recognized GHS student Alex Davis for a remarkable milestone: completing the residential carpentry apprenticeship program and surpassing 4,000 hours of industry training.
“Ted McAvoy's legacy is not simply found in buildings or programs, but it's in the thousands of students and those coming from afar today to recognize him,” said Mackey. “The influence in his dedication and his leadership, and belief in the power of education.”
Learn more about Ted McAvoy's 35-year legacy as a shop teacher, vocational director, and principal.
