Weatherford ISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Darryl Cross and Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Joe Schultz are saying their goodbyes this year after long-term careers in the education field.

Cross began his career teaching sixth grade in Dallas ISD in 1978, after graduating from Trinity University with an undergraduate degree in elementary education.

“I learned a great deal about teaching those first four years in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas ISD,” Cross said. “At that time, class sizes were not what they are today, and I learned to teach and manage 35 sixth graders at a time.”

His interests then moved on to teaching students in the gifted and talented programs, and he took a position teaching in a magnet school in Richardson ISD.

He stayed in Richardson for 18 years working as a teacher, curriculum specialists, assistant principal, principal and finally as the executive director for pre-k through 12th grade curriculum and instruction for the district. He has served the last eight years of his career in his current position at Weatherford ISD.

Cross’ professional life has taken place solely in Texas, however, he grew up just outside of Washington, D.C., in Alexandria, Va. His family later moved to San Antonio while he was attending a division of William and Mary College.

He said he was “lured” to Texas where he completed his undergraduate work at Trinity University in San Antonio.

Once he started his teaching job in Dallas ISD, Cross also pursued his master’s degree in counseling and student services at the University of North Texas.

“Though I have never actually served as a school counselor, the training and learning I received at UNT was extremely valuable in working with parents, students, faculty and other staff,” he said.

His family continues to live in Texas, including his two daughters, Rebecca and Ashley.

“Rebecca is completing the last course for UNT in business and is currently working for a real estate firm in Corpus Christi, while her new husband is fulfilling his Naval duties near Bahrain,” Cross said. “Ashley will graduate from UT in Austin with a degree in communication studies this year. Getting both daughters through college was definitely a goal prior to considering retirement.”

With his daughters completing school, he said he just knows that it is now the right time to retire. He plans on continuing to work part-time in a consulting and training role with school districts in the areas of instruction and federal program implementation, along with traveling and seeing as much of the world as possible, Cross said.

“I actually don’t feel that I am totally leaving the workforce since I will be able to continue to work in a part-time consultative way with districts,” he said. “Education will always be in my blood and I will always be learning. Weatherford ISD has been an incredible place to spend my last years working full-time in education and the team and students in this district are truly special and amazing.”

He said his favorite memories at Weatherford ISD are all the people he has been able to work with on a daily basis.

“I felt the sense of family on my first visit for my initial interview eight years ago,” Cross said. “Weatherford ISD staff is truly dedicated to children first and promotes an atmosphere of teamwork that I have found in no other place. It was truly one of the best decisions of my career to decide to accept the position here in Weatherford ISD.

“And then there are the students. The students in this district are amazing and I will always carry fond memories of all of the many visits and time spent in classrooms.”

Schultz, who will also be retiring this year, has also worked as a teacher in the Hurst-Euless Bedford ISD for six years, Dallas ISD one year and Garland ISD one year. He then took a position as business manager at Northwest ISD for three years, Azle ISD for seven years and Kerrville ISD for six years. He has been the assistant superintendent of business and operations at Weatherford ISD for 10 years.

“I am ready for retirement, but I will miss the people I have worked with over the years,” Schultz said. “Being able to travel and see places I never dreamed of seeing will take up most of my time in retirement.”