Donovan DeBoer This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Argus Leader - News

   www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs. - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/9/2006   Last Visited: 3/9/2006

   As girls basketball coach at Newell High School, Donavan DeBoer preaches the importance of family.
   
   When DeBoer's 4-month-old son, Espyn, died Feb. 16 of sudden infant death syndrome, the Irrigator players put aside their sadness to rally around their coach and his wife, Michelle.
   ...
   "A lot of people say coaches help kids," DeBoer said. "But, no doubt, those kids have held me up the last couple weeks. No doubt about it."
   
   Three weeks and three victories later, DeBoer and his players have helped each other through the tragedy, leading Newell to its first state tournament since 1994.
   ...
   The third child of Donavan (Newell's elementary and middle school principal) and Michelle (a third-grade teacher), Espyn quickly became a fixture at Newell games.
   
   "The girls would come and get him and hold him before the game - he would be passed around the crowd of kids," Michelle said of Espyn. "It's kind of silly to say for a 4-month-old, but he loved to go to the games."
   
   Feb. 16 was like most days for the DeBoers until Donavan's phone rang with the call every parent fears.
   
   "The day care called and said I had to be there right away," DeBoer said.
   ...
   "We didn't talk about winning one for Espyn," the 28-year-old Donavan DeBoer said.
   ...
   They stayed through Sunday, going inside the house to watch television with the family and hanging out with DeBoer's 4-year-old daughter Paityn in the trailer.
   ...
   The chant from the fans who mobbed DeBoer on the court told the game's real story: "That's For Espyn!"
   
   "They huddled around me as soon as they got out there," DeBoer said.
   ...
   "Athletics is not always about winning and losing, it's about caring for each other enough to go to work and fight alongside each other for a common goal," Donavan said.

2. 2. Rapid City Journal: Serving Rapid City South Dakota

   www.rapidcityjournal.com/artic - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/18/2003   Last Visited: 8/18/2003

   Donovan DeBoer is taking the helm in Newell as elementary principal and Title 1 director. It is his first administrative position after teaching and coaching in Las Vegas, Wood and Winner. He was a fifth-grade teacher and track and cross-country coach in Winner when he was hired in Newell.
   
   DeBoer completed his master's program at University of South Dakota this summer.
   
   DeBoer said he has spent most of his first weeks interviewing for vacant teaching positions at the elementary school, where his wife, Michelle, will teach. He has also been planning for the coming school year. "I am currently working on setting up the School Improvement Plan and taking ideas for this year," DeBoer said. "The whole Title 1 program has changed with No Child Left Behind legislation."
   
   He is also working on August staff meetings and student screenings.
   
   "I'm really excited to get going," he said. "I hope to be an instructional leader and not necessarily a disciplinarian."
   
   DeBoer is replacing retired principal Ramona McFarland and retired Title 1 director Wilma Dick.
   ...
   DeBoer said his family takes priority when it comes to free-time activities, but he also enjoys golfing, bird hunting and basketball.

3. 3. Rapid City Journal: Area schools focus on security

   www.rapidcityjournal.com/artic - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/12/2004   Last Visited: 10/13/2004

   "It is our responsibility to know who is in our buildings," Newell Elementary/Middle School Principal Donovan DeBoer said.