North Cedar bids farewell to Jeppson

CLARENCE - We started the year writing 'If you see the North Cedar principal Dain Jeppson running after students, don't worry. He is the cross country coach.”

Now we finish the school year by writing North Cedar's photo legacy created by Dain Jeppson comes to an end.

As the 2014-2015 school year comes to a close, so does Jeppson's last year. Jeppson has been the principal at North Cedar for 10 years. And starting next fall, he will begin work as an art teacher at Mid-Prairie. Everyone at North Cedar wishes him the best at his new job, but he will be missed greatly at our school.

Over the years, Jeppson has gone above and beyond for our school. He never misses a home game, no matter what sport it was. And at every game he always takes pictures, whether those pictures ended up in the yearbook or hung around the school. Jeppson also attends and takes pictures at all the school dances, blood drives, choir or band concerts, or a musical or play.

He has donated in many blood drives and has challenged the student body to donate, too, announcing he would dress as a woman if they met their goal.

'People don't realize all that Jeppson has done for the school because he even missed his own daughter's graduation to do commencement ceremonies for North Cedar,” Renae Paup said.

Jeppson said he has really enjoyed going to all of the school's events to help support his students.

If you have ever seen Jeppson at any sporting event at North Cedar, he always has one of two things in his hands - his camera to take pictures and his smartphone. Students always are yelling ' Hey Jeppy” so he will take a picture of them. Jeppson likes taking selfies, alone or with kids after they finished running laps in track, after they won a basketball game or on the bus on the way to a cross country meet with all of the cross country students.

In all of Jeppson's years as a principal at North Cedar, he also has been the cross country coach. He always encouraged all of the students to go out for cross country, even though he knew most of them wouldn't like the running. Even if it wasn't cross country, he was a big proponent of student involvement. He always encouraged students to go out for everything they could and to stay involved in all student activities.

His philosophy of engagement was also seen in the classroom. Last year, when he was observing a digital imaging class to create a montage, he slipped out and got his computer and came back to class and did the assignment in mosaic picture just like the students.

His dedication to the students will be missed and Mid-Prairie will be the benefactor.

Jeppson said he is just going with the flow and is very excited to be an art teacher again, but will miss coaching cross country.