Keep Luscombe at DMCS

Class of 2000

I taught with Clint for a long time and watched him give his life to DMC and more specifically to Jesus Christ! He gave his all to the students! He spent extra time trying to help kids understand math and love it like he does. I left DMC when I saw many of the same types of treatment given to people who the school board deemed unworthy to teach at DMC. Unfortunately what happens is a teacher will have a difference of opinion with a school board member and it will escalate into pressure to terminate a teacher. It sounds like once again we have an administration who lacks the intestinal fortitude to stand up and do the right thing and stand behind the teachers who so deserve to be supported. It seems to me that DMC is the loser here! Clint will go on strong because he is a man of integrity, faith and character. I wish i could say the same for those making this decision!

Mr. Luscombe was one of my husband’s and my favorite teachers. We both graduated from DMCS more than twenty years ago, but we still share memories and tell stories from being in Mr. Luscombe’s math classes. He was patient, fun, and an all around great teacher. I would love to have him teach our own children.

Does anyone else even endorse reading books at DMCS? I would put money down that Mr. Luscombe not only has read more books than any other teacher there, but also continues to read more books in a year than the combine total of all the other Secondary faculty. Each year.

Vice President of the National Honors Society year 2013 checking in to say, “What? You’re firing the guy that would do +75 dips in front of you for gym class at over 50 years of age? Talk about money where your mouth is and inspiration, all in one sentence. What that other guy do? How about teach a sport and not let it affect his teaching job? Yeah, I’m looking at a multitude of coaches on this one. When I went to school at DMC, if you were in Mr. Luscombe’s class, you were considered to be in the “smart” math class... I also fondly remember people making lists of worth-while teachers and the lists would only go three or four deep, and those other three are already gone. Probably safer for the kids though.. don’t want too many difficult classes in a college prep. school haha end quote.

Mr. Luscombe is and always will be a great teacher. Everything he did in class and the way he teaches has prepared me for college. To receive a good grade in his class, students actually have to take charge of their own learning and work for the grade they want. Not only is this a good strategy for college courses, it’s an incredible life lesson. On top of this, he is a teacher devoted to creating a fun learning environment for his students to thrive in. It would be a mistake to let a teacher as intelligent and committed as Mr. Luscombe go.

Clint and I taught together for 10 years. It is appalling to basically slap a veteran teacher in the face after 30+ years of loyal service. He earned the right to walk away on his terms and be celebrated for an amazing career of making a difference in all the lives he touched. Sadly the DMC administration did not do right by him but I'm proud to see so many honor him in these comments. Blessings to you Clint and may you find another venue for your math limbo.

Amazed, disheartened, not impressed. Now would be an appropriate time for the Administration to make their case and disclose the vote, assuming one was taken. This decision is not in the pursuit of excellence nor for the glory of Christ. It is well off the mark. Simply put, get it right or get out of the way. Renew Mr. Luscombe’s contract. You should be compelled to do so. Brian Helgens Class of 1987

Class of 1994

Typical DMCS making poor decisions with no prior thought! Mr. Luscombe is a brilliant man, with so much knowledge to pass on to the students. Gosh, let him stay and do what he obviously loves!! When we met with him last year he prided himself in telling us every angle of how our son could be doing better, and his plans to help him!!! Really, DMC come on get with the program. Maybe you all need to go shadow at Dowling for a week and see how a well oiled machine runs, and how they value their teachers. You have a much bigger problem school wide then firing great teachers. This is not the Christian way!!!!

As I have kids now in middle school and high school, I’ve thought many times about Mr Luscombe. How he pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. He believed in me and gave me confidence that I could not have gotten alone. He encouraged me, helped me, and me strive to not only pass math, but to understand it. I wish my kids could experience math like I did at DMCS. Mr Luscombe I hope you can read these comments and how you’ve changed lives!

As a former employee of DMC I know these issues are complex. That being said, I was part of the Secondary Office when Dr. Quick had his contract not renewed. He was a science teacher who called students to high standards like Mr. Luscombe. When we surveyed graduates, he was consistently called out as the teacher who prepared students for college rigors. Sounds like many of the alumni comments in this petition. It took years for DMC science to recover from the loss of Dr. Quick. I often tell people it is the worst mistake I saw DMC make. I am grieved that history could be repeating itself. I am praying for the Administration and the whole DMC community.

Over the years, I've watched DMC change and grow --sometimes, I believe, for the better, sometimes not so much. I currently have three children who have received a Christian education all the way through, thanks to how much I value my DMC education. An education without Christ is incomplete. Full stop. And a Christian education without wise, seasoned, Godly, experienced teachers of character is impossible. By letting Mr. Luscombe go, you are throwing away a treasure --you won't easily replace someone who's established a reputation as a challenging, loyal, gifted educator. When I was a student at DMC and my father served on the board, I got a behind-the-scenes look at the importance of valuing teachers. At the time (mid-late 1980s), the starting salary at DMC was nearly unliveable. These were the years that Mr Luscombe started, and he stayed not because it was a good career move, but because he loved his students. I see the football team, the new facility, the high-quality promotion of the school, and I question whether something's amiss with the school's priorities. My husband, I should add, has been a Christian school teacher for over 15 years. I've watched many Christian schools in the past decade become businesses first, schools and ministries second. I mourn this change, and I grieve that it seems that Mr. Luscombe's dismissal is just one more evidence that DMC has lost its compass. The saying on my class ring is "Christ Above All." I pray that DMC will realign its priorities to match this aim. Shelbi Anderson Gesch, class of 1991.

Good teachers are hard to find and great teachers are even more rare. Mr. Luscombe is one of the rare great ones which leads me to question the sanity of those in charge. This is not the DMCS I knew.

Shame on you, DMC. Mr. Luscombe is the best teacher that school has had.

Luscombe is the heart and soul of this school. No other person has contributed more to the academic, competitive, or spiritual standards as he has. I have zero clue what the behind-the-scene political reasons are for this decision. I doubt anyone will give a justification for this. I also don’t believe this petition will sway opinions for those in power. So instead, I will just say thank you to you, Clint. Your impact on THOUSANDS of students is incalculable. Thank you for caring enough to invest in me and countless others. Greg Mazunik Class of 2001

I became a math teacher because of Mr Luscombe.

Mr. Luscomb was one of my favorite teachers. Always there with an encouraging word!

It would be a sad day if Mr. Luscombe were to retire from DMC. However, it would also be a day of thankful celebration for the decades of service, dedication and commitment he has give to the students of DMC over his 30 years of teaching excellence. Sadly, that isn’t the reason for the many personal testimonies on this page. It is shocking and unbelievable that DMC has made a decision not to renew Mr. Luscombe’s contract. DMC Board - what are your reasons for this decision? Are his teaching standards too high? Does he care about the students too much? Is his integrity too great? Does DMC no longer value men of godly character? These are the exact reasons Mr. Luscombe is so admired and loved for 30+ years - The high standards he holds for both himself and his students, academically and personally. Mr. Luscombe is a role model I want for my children. My son had to work hard in his classes and is ready for college level math because of Mr. Luscombe. That’s a good thing. My son also had the privilege to learn from a man of godly character and integrity. That’s a great thing. This is exactly the kind of teacher I want my children to have at DMC. Learning from a biblical worldview isn’t the only reason I have my children at DMC. An even greater reason is the opportunity to learn godly character from their role models at DMC. Mr. Luscombe is not only a role model for the students of DMC, but also a role model for other teachers. He is the standard that all of DMC should be striving for, not letting go. DMC Board - I’m sure it would be difficult to admit a mistake and reverse your decision. However, the implications of not reversing your decision would be far greater. How many students will miss the opportunity for Mr. Luscombe to impact their lives? What message are you giving to past and present DMC students by letting Mr. Luscombe go? That high academic and personal standards aren’t as important as they once were? That integrity, biblical character and godliness no longe

Mr. Luscombe is an outstanding teacher and, more importantly, an outstanding role model. His classes were challenging, but he never failed to offer any extra help a student needed. I earned an "A" in Calculus in my first semester at the University of Iowa largely due to his instruction my senior year. I earned degrees in Finance and Economics (math dominated fields) with honors because of the foundation he laid. Moreover, his character - faithful service and joy in the face of adversity - imparted more life lessons than any math curriculum ever could. Future students deserve to study with a teacher of his caliber, and I question the wisdom of this decision. Mr. Luscombe, if you happen to read this, THANK YOU for the impact you made on my life and on many others. Your students and athletes carry you with us always.