Logan View teacher is leaving at the end of the year

Whether directing a play or coaching a team, Ed Wilberding knows one thing:

“No matter what your role is -- it’s important,” said the longtime teacher at Logan View Junior-Senior High School. “Every part is important and (students) have to be able to work together and to understand that what they do influences what others do, and what the team does.”

Wilberding has been leading those teams, drama troupes -- and students in general -- for 33 years at Logan View. But this is his last year at the school near Hooper. Next fall, Wilberding will begin a new job as an English teacher at Elkhorn Mount Michael.

“As much as I’ve loved it here, I’m looking forward to something different, because I think that it’s time,” he said.

Wilberding is 1972 Fremont High School graduate, where he played football. His junior year that team was the state champion, according to the Associated Press, and years later inducted into the Fremont Booster Club Hall of Fame.

Football taught him a lot about teamwork.

“I was an offensive lineman. It’s probably the least glorified position on the team,” he said. “The only time they know what you’ve done is if you don’t do your job. If you miss a block, the whole world knows because the quarterback is probably flat on his back. And when you do your job, you don’t get noticed.

“I take pride in that, because I think that’s important in any team concept �” that you know you’ve done your job and your teammates know you’ve done your job.”

After testing out of various classes, Wilberding graduated from Wayne State College in

31⁄2 years. He and his wife, Sheri, married in May 1975 and he graduated that December.

Wilberding completed his student teaching at Logan View, where he would be hired full time and remain.

He’s enjoyed working here.

“It’s small enough that you know everybody. The kids can be in a variety of things and not have to specialize so much as sometimes happens in a bigger school,” he said. “It’s a perfect size �” not too big, not too small.”

At first, he taught junior high-level reading, writing and literature classes. He also taught speech for many years. These days, he teaches English composition, literature and creative writing and is the senior class sponsor.

He coached girls volleyball during his first year as a teacher, then spent the next 23 as assistant football coach. He’s spent 33 years as the school’s play director.

“I’m not trained in drama, but I’ve always thought that I have a pretty good ear and eye for what things are supposed to sound like and look like,” he said. “I’m not afraid to ask for help.”

Throughout the years, Wilberding has been open to the students’ ideas.

“Half of the things the people laugh at are things I didn’t come up with -- the kids did,” he said.

Wilberding directed his first play in 1977.

“We had a lot of talented kids,” he said. “I was lucky. We had some really sharp kids.”

In addition to the yearly full-length plays, Wilberding has directed one-act plays for contests and those simply intended for audience enjoyment.

He knows what it is to juggle a schedule that includes football and play practices.

And he sees similarities between the two.

“You have to remember why you’re here,” he said. “You’re here for the kids -- to place them in positions where they can succeed. I’ve grown to believe that’s one of the most important things you can do.”

In football, for instance, a coach may have a player who can really throw the ball. That paves the way for a certain type of offense. But that same offense won’t work, if a coach doesn’t have a player with those capabilities.

A similar philosophy holds true with plays and musicals.

“Some years, you have some very talented boys and some years you don’t have a lot of boys,” he said. “This year, we had some really good senior girls who were very talented. I had to find a way to provide opportunities for them. I ended up writing seven pages of material for this musical ... I had to add some dialogue and characters so they could be a part of it at a level they deserved to be.”

But therein also lies the philosophy that each part is vital.

“We had a girl in a contest last year who had one line that got the biggest laugh and praise from the judges. They loved it,” he said, adding, “It’s shows that you’re a part and it’s all important.”

Wilberding had an opportunity to see how important his role has been to students on the last night of the school’s recent musical, “Hankerin’ Hillbillies.”

It was an emotional moment for Wilberding when the students, who received a standing ovation, called him up to the stage, where they gave him a plague with all their names on it, a six-pack of Diet Pepsi (“They know I have to have my Diet Pepsi”) and a shirt and tie for his new job.

“Realizing that this was the last one was kind of tough, because it’s been a big part of my life for a long time,” he said.

At this point, Wilberding foresees various changes in his life. He and his wife have built a house in Fremont. They have three children, Brent, Blake and Brian. Their oldest son and his wife, Whitney, are expecting a baby in about 11⁄2 months. Youngest son, Brian, is set to graduate from Midland Lutheran College in May.

Wilberding said his wife would like to go to Hawaii.

“I suppose that’s on the horizon sometime,” he said, smiling.

For now, he appreciates his time at Logan View.

“You know what you’re doing isn’t immediately recognized, but someday down the road you hope you’ve done something to help people along,” he said.