Saying good-bye

As many of our readers already know, Odessa’s very successful high school science teacher Jeff Wehr and his wife Julie, along with their two children Thorsen and Kiegan, are leaving Odessa at the end of the school year. The family is moving to Duvall, Wash., located in King County south of Monroe, where Jeff is taking a position at Cedarcrest High School. The Record asked him how it all came about, and he responded as follows:

“It actually is a wacky story! We were not looking to move at all. We had placed our house on the market in January to see if we could move to a different house in Odessa that we had our eye on.

“Then, in late February, a science teacher friend of mine from Duvall emailed me and said he was retiring this year, but had developed a science research course two years ago and wanted me to continue what he started. He kept asking me to apply for his position, teaching physical sciences and science research and as a favor to him, I applied.

“I was not sure I had a chance in a larger district. Everyone applying had awesome backgrounds! Then, it came down to 10 of us, then five, then three for the final interviews.

“During my interview I expressed how incredible the Odessa District was and how the community was so supportive of education.”

The position was offered to Jeff Wehr, and after much soul-searching, family discussion and weighing of pros and cons, they decided to give western Washington a try.

“This was a very difficult decision for me and my family,” Wehr said, “as we really enjoy Odessa, our friends, and, certainly, I am very fond of the science program the students and I have created. But, we feel this is also an incredible opportunity for not only our professional careers but also for the family. Luckily, Duvall has similarities to Odessa, with a close and very supportive community. Duvall is just outside of Seattle, which we really enjoy, but also at the base of the beautiful Snoqualmie and Wenatchee Mountains! Their research program is coming along, and I really want to become a part of this. It is a bit larger district, but that just means having a larger population of future scientists to help shape.”

Wehr says he sometimes wonders if he made the right choice, because the Odessa School District and community have been such huge supporters of his classroom activities, as well as the science excursions he has organized. “They have allowed me the freedom to create a wonderful science program that I am reluctant to leave behind,” he says, “however, we all agree that I will try to assist the administration in the interview process for potential science teacher candidates. I want to see the program continue and thrive.”

Wehr anticipates a busy summer. In January, he was named a Siemens Award recipient, and he will fly to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee shortly after school is out in June. When he returns in early July, the family will make the move.

Community members said farewell to Jeff and Julie Wehr last Saturday night, when Rocky Coulee Brewing Company invited the public to say farewell and to attend a final performance by “Staff Infection,” the musical duo consisting of Jeff Wehr and fellow Odessa High teacher Larry Moffet.