John Baer

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-220725

Notes:

Innovative educator supported students and teachers

By Valerie Hill Special to the Record

From a sickly Mennonite farm boy to an innovative educator determined to change how children learned, John Baer defied expectations.

John was born on a New Dundee farm on Jan. 14, 1943, one of seven children of Moses and Salema Baer. Moses, a farmer and church bishop, held to the Mennonite tradition of not allowing children to continue past Grade 8 but he also recognized John as an ever-curious child who had no desire to become a farmer. John's undiagnosed illness never stopped him from doing his farm chores, a work ethic he carried throughout his life.

"He wanted to be in school, he was always interested in things," said his wife, Debbie Baer.

John entered elementary school a year early because his older brother David needed the moral support of a sibling when he started school. The teacher, seeing John had a robust mind, suggested he would be accepted as a student, not just his brother's companion.

After high school, John completed the one-year program at Stratford Teachers' College, graduating when he was still a teenager.

Debbie said John actually wanted to be a veterinarian but teachers' college was more affordable. After one year of training, it's hard to imagine he was prepared for his first assignment: a one-room schoolhouse near Durham. He wasn't yet 20.

"In those days you were the teacher, you were the principal and you were the custodian," said Debbie.

John's next school was in Winterbourne where he taught and served as vice-principal and later moved to St Jacobs Public School as principal. John's entire career was as a principal, though he also taught, mostly history.

John, who had two sons, John Jr. and Daniel, from his first marriage, upgraded his education while working full time, first an undergraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University followed by a graduate degree from the University of Windsor.

John's career with the Waterloo Region District School Board spanned three decades, including opening two new schools: Glencairn and Country Hills. He met Debbie in 1972 when she came to teach at St. Jacobs.

Debbie knew she had married her perfect partner and remembers when her class was invited to join Phyllis Ribey's kindergarten class for story and song time. She saw firsthand John's influence on how the children were being educated and how he supported his staff.

"I was seeing in action the kind of teacher this Mr. Baer held in high esteem: a caring, engaging and uplifting teacher who knew how young children blossomed."

John also recognized in Debbie an ability that needed to be nurtured.

"He would call on all the experts to help me grow and learn just as the children did," she said. Their relationship "was created by our shared beliefs and our knowledge that all children could grow and learn in an environment that nurtured each of them as individuals."

On a personal level, Debbie was struck by John's humbleness, his caring about everyone around him.

"I thought 'how can this man be so nice?' but he was," said Debbie of the man she describes as "a gentle soul."

Their daughter Jenni-Rebecca Baer, also an educator (the family was affectionately known in school as "the three Baers") said her father had a child-centric view on education. He saw each child as an individual, one that would grow, learn and thrive in their own unique way. There was no one-size-fits-all in John's mind. He wanted every child to feel welcome and excited about learning.

While studying for his graduate degree, John's thesis would form the foundation of his career as an educator.

Some of the ideas in "The Learning Place: an Alternative Educational Environment for Elementary Schools" were implemented when he was at Glencairn Public School.

Inge Ford had been John's vice-principal at Glencairn.

"John was very engaging with students, staff, parents and the community," she recalled. "He was always forward-thinking and innovative, always ensuring students came first. He was also a big Elvis fan"

Jenni-Rebecca talked about the Elvis birthday parties her father would hold at the school, getting the kids involved, everyone singing Elvis songs.

After John retired in 1997, the couple purchased an empty 64-acre property near Paisley where they built a house, barns and planted gardens. John would continue to help at the schools when needed and Debbie continued teaching another 10 years before she too retired.

For years, John dealt with a manageable form of leukemia but when the effects of Parkinson's impacted his life, they sold their property and moved to Point Clark. Debbie cared for him at home. John died on May 26, 2021.

"My dad was my hero," said Jenni-Rebecca.


"Innovative Educator Supported Students And Teachers". 2021. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/life/2021/06/14/innovative-educator-supported-students-and-teachers.html.

John — Sandra Baker. [Group Sheet]