By Anne Gibson

It was a day in 1987 when four unknown children with distinct blond hair entered the then Rincon Creek General Store. When welcomed and questioned they informed curious customers and employees alike that they were Shad, Sommer, Hessel, and Everett Baker from Alaska. They also shared that their parents had just moved in up the hill in Rocking K Estates and their dad, Calvin Baker, was coming to work at the Vail School.

The conversations from the men on the front porch of the store was how long would they stay. After all of the past three superintendents, two had only lasted one year and one for just two years. None had ever made the commitment to purchase a home in the school district. And commit Calvin Baker and family did with Mr. Baker moving rapidly from principal of Vail’s only school to superintendent on 8-8-88, a service or mission as Mr. Baker often called it, that lasted 33 years.  He was taking on a district that could politely be described as “riddled with controversy,” but with his leadership, there were many changes on the horizon.

A lot happened in those 33 years. The student population went from 500 students to over 14,000 in 22 schools. The Baker family added two more children, Brenae and Vincent, and 15 grandchildren. “I was so impressed with the strong values that motivated his work, his dedication to excellence, and his willingness to listen and learn – all of which became hallmarks of his leadership. It is these qualities that grew two, nearly unknown Vail schools, into more than 22 high performing and nationally acknowledged schools today,” said Gary Fenstermacher dean of the UA College of Education regarding Calvin Baker in a November 12th letter to the Arizona Daily Star.

The rapid growth of the Vail School District presented a challenge. Yet Baker worked with developers to establish an education impact fee on each new house built. He created a multi-tract calendar year to keep classroom sizes reasonable.  When growth had slowed a little, Baker took the school off of multi-tract and replaced it with a modified year-round schedule that allowed for fall and spring breaks along with a six-week summer break. The new calendar allowed for less time needed for “reteach” after the long summer break and allowed less loss of academic retention.

This year, 17 of Vail’s largest schools received a grade of “A” from the Arizona Department of Education, in part made possible by a Vail developed program entitled “Beyond Textbook.” Beyond Textbook is a blend of curriculum and technology providing teachers with resources to enhance their daily teaching. The Vail School District registered the copyright and now shares the skills to districts in five states.

Over the years there have been many articles written about and awards presented to Calvin Baker all with a common theme of his being a visionary, his strong ethics, and moral center. Earlier this year Superintendent Baker was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable but treatable form of cancer.  The reality of his health situation helped Mr. Baker and Nancy, his wife of nearly five decades, to look toward a future where they would focus on each other, their children and their grandchildren. Family had always been a priority, which has been carried on by their children.

It was a day of mixed emotions when Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 the Vail School District Governing Board accepted Superintendent Baker’s resignation effective February 1st, 2020. In a separate motion, the board approved the contract of John Carruth, 24-year Vail School District veteran, as superintendent in January 1st, 2020.

This writer will miss Calvin Baker, but we wish him and Nancy the time they so richly deserve together.

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Anne Gibson