Editor’s note: In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2020, we are running a series of stories highlighting a handful of educators in Daviess County. While we realize that every teacher deserves recognition, especially during these trying times, we’re able to tell just a few of their stories this week with the help from their school principals.
Day 4: After dedicating 30 years to Owensboro Catholic High School, both as an educator and in various coaching roles, Jim Ivey is retiring as a teacher. He said he’s had fun every step of the way.
It’s been quite a ride for Jim Ivey, and he’s calling it quits after an enjoyable 30 years with Owensboro Catholic High School. Whether it was in the classroom as a health and physical education teacher or through his various coaching roles, Ivey had a major impact on many students — and even some staff members — that attended OCHS over the last three decades.
Gates Settle — who has been a principal for 20 years total, with the last nine years at Catholic — said he’s had the pleasure of watching Ivey’s method of teaching.
“I have always had the philosophy that a teachers’ main priority should be to teach kids first and not subjects,” Settle said. “I have had a front-row seat witnessing Jim’s main priority of teaching kids.”
Ivey started full-time as a teacher with OCHS in 1990, the same year he started as the track and field coach. He’s also been head coach of the girls’ cross country team for the last 16 years.
“I feel fortunate that I’ve spent 30 years in this building. I’m from this community,” Ivey said. “I’ve enjoyed how this system is structured with teaching and discipline. The environment is awesome.”
Ivey was also proud to say that he taught all four of his children over the years, recounting some stories of how he would either get stern with them or tease them at times.
“What a blessing in my life to be able to say that I taught all my children,” he said. “Not many people can say that.”
Ivey’s reach went well beyond his own children, though. Settle said he was a positive force in the school day in and day out.
“In my 37 years in the school business, I don’t think I have ever seen a more happy, motivated and effective teacher, and I don’t think I have ever seen him in a bad mood,” Settle said. “I often use him as an example with our students of a faith-filled person and how the light of Christ shines in him each day. I meet with every senior before they graduate, and many of them often mention coach Ivey as an inspiration to them.”
Settle said Ivey has many important “teacher” qualities such as being able to motivate students, having great rapport with them, and most of all making sure they know he cares about them and has their best interest in mind.
“Whether in the classroom or on the track, he is always coaching kids by supporting, encouraging, providing guidance, and many times telling corny jokes and giving anecdotes that don’t always make sense at the time — and they love him for it,” Settle said. “Not to mention, it seems like coach Ivey was always driving the bus for every sporting event and activity that students were attending.”
Ivey said though he likes to have fun, he’s also a very matter-of-fact instructor that expects students to follow the rules. He said if there are issues, he likes to address them and move on.
“I’m not a teacher that’s going to bring up six months from now what you did six months ago,” he said. “I’m going to deal with you standing in front of me, then let’s move on.”
He added that seeing students mature is a rewarding aspect of the job.
“We’re shaping young people to be adults,” he said. “They’re not going to be the same person when they leave as when they first got here. I have witnessed some of the biggest knuckleheads in my class become the leaders before it’s over. That’s the cool part.”
Through it all, Ivey has tried to make sure he’s a good example of a Christian — an important quality at a Catholic school.
“Obviously, in our school, faith is the most important component of what we focus on each day, and Jim is such an integral part of that because he is such a faith-filled man who walks the walk each day with our students,” Settle said. “He is a great Christian role model who constantly provides an outstanding example for not only our students but also our staff.”
