Three longtime educators at Langford Area School will be enjoying a well-earned break this fall as they begin retirement after careers that span more than a century combined.
Between them, Dave Carson, Brett Gibbs and Lora Gibbs have spent more than 100 years teaching, coaching, leading schools and helping students find their way. While each followed a different path through education, all three say the profession taught them as much as they taught their students.
Dave Carson: A Lifetime of Learning and Coaching
For nearly four decades, Dave Carson has been a familiar face in Langford classrooms, hallways and athletic facilities.
Carson spent 37 of his 38 years in education at Langford Area School after beginning his career at Roslyn-Webster. Over the years he taught a wide variety of subjects, including language arts, social studies, physical education and business classes ranging from accounting to personal finance.
Like many educators, Carson entered the profession with one goal in mind.
“Originally I went into the profession to coach,” he said. “I found out real soon that coaching and teaching are really the same thing.”
Teaching in a small school often meant wearing many different hats, something Carson considers one of the greatest challenges educators face. Despite the demands, he says the most rewarding moments were often the simplest.
“Just simple thank-yous from parents and former or present students,” he said.
One of the biggest changes Carson witnessed during his career was the rapid advancement of technology and the way it transformed education. While society and students have changed over the years, he believes those changes have largely been positive.
Throughout his career, Carson encouraged students to always do their best, while understanding that no one performs at their peak every day.
Among his favorite memories are the years he spent teaching and coaching his own children while also working with their friends.
“There are many memories, but teaching and coaching my own kids and working with their friends at the same time was priceless,” he said.
Although retirement will provide more free time, Carson won’t be stepping away from the school entirely. He plans to return to assist in the special education department and continue working home athletic events. Most importantly, he said, he looks forward to spending more quality time with his wife, Lisa.
His advice to students remains the same as it has always been: get involved.
“Be active, join activities, be as good of a student, athlete, musician and person as you can be,” he said.
Brett Gibbs: Four Decades in Education Leadership
Brett Gibbs has spent more than 40 years in education, serving as a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent and most recently activity director.
His career took him across South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa before he arrived in Langford five years ago. Along the way he taught and coached in Jones County and Todd County before moving into administration, eventually serving 21 years as a superintendent.
For Gibbs, education was always the right fit.
“I tried selling insurance for one year and was miserable,” he said with a laugh. “I quickly went back into education.”
While his career eventually shifted toward administration, Gibbs says students remained his favorite part of the job.
“The best part of education is that no two days are ever alike because the kids keep you on your toes,” he said.
As a longtime administrator, Gibbs says one of the greatest challenges was balancing limited funding while trying to provide the best opportunities possible for students and staff.
He also witnessed dramatic changes in technology. When he began teaching in 1982, teachers relied on mimeograph machines and typed materials by hand. Today, nearly everything is created, stored and shared digitally.
Despite those changes, Gibbs believes the fundamentals of education have remained the same.
He always tried to teach students that education matters regardless of what career path they choose and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Looking back, Gibbs says it’s impossible to choose a single favorite memory. Instead, he points to the excitement that accompanies both the beginning and end of every school year.
“The first day is all about new beginnings and fresh starts,” he said. “The last day comes when everyone is ready for a break.”
Though he jokes that this is his third attempt at retirement, Gibbs believes the time is finally right. He plans to continue substitute teaching in Langford and Britton-Hecla, work as a notary public and travel with his wife.
Upcoming plans include visiting more Major League Baseball stadiums and eventually taking a cruise down the Rhine River in Europe.
His advice to students is simple: try everything.
“You don’t have to be a superstar to participate,” he said. “It’s the experiences that you’ll remember.”
Lora Gibbs: Finding Joy in the “Aha” Moments
For Lora Gibbs, teaching was never part of the original plan.
“I always thought I’d do something with my hands, maybe welding,” she said. “I enjoy creating things.”
Instead, she found a career helping students learn and grow.
Over 22 years in education, Gibbs taught special education, kindergarten, fourth and fifth grades, middle school math and middle school science. Before coming to Langford, she taught in North Dakota, Iowa and at a Catholic school in Harlan, Iowa. She spent her final two years teaching a combined kindergarten through third-grade classroom at Newport Colony near Claremont.
Gibbs says one of the greatest challenges teachers face is finding enough time to teach everything students need to learn.
“There never seemed to be enough time,” she said. The reward, however, made the effort worthwhile.
Her favorite moments came when students finally grasped a difficult concept. “Seeing that ‘aha’ moment on a kid’s face when they finally understand is the best feeling,” she said.
Like many educators, Gibbs witnessed technology become increasingly prominent in the classroom. While she appreciates its benefits, she also believes students today spend too much time on devices.
Throughout her career, she emphasized the importance of education regardless of career choice and encouraged students to seek help whenever they needed it.
When asked about her favorite memories, Gibbs struggled to narrow them down. “There are too many great memories,” she said. “From working with students to spending time with colleagues.”
To help preserve those memories, she kept a journal throughout her career that she hopes to revisit during retirement.
After more than two decades in the classroom, Gibbs says she is ready to focus on activities she enjoys outside of school. Retirement plans include traveling with her husband and teaching arts and crafts classes.
Her advice for students is one she hopes they carry long after graduation. “Ask for help when you need it,” she said. “And never limit your abilities.”
As a new school year approaches, Langford students and staff will begin the year without three familiar faces in the building. But the lessons, encouragement and countless hours of service provided by Carson and the Gibbses will continue to influence students for years to come.
