Barry Dean is retiring from Grand Prairie Elementary School in Plainfield

When Barry Dean began his teaching career at District 202 in Plainfield in 1973, he was hoping to move into coaching at some point.

“I was one of those sports-minded people looking for a way to coach,” Dean said in a news release from District 202. “But there was no other way to coach other than to teach.”

As Dean prepares to retire from his 48-year teaching career – with 44 years of it at Grand Prairie Elementary School in Plainfield – District 202 is inviting the community to participate in a memory book it is creating for Dean.

District 202 resident and former students may write a letter – or email – to share memories or messages of encouragement and congratulations as Dean starts this new life journey. Community members also may draw a picture of their favorite memory of Dean, which also would included in the memory book.

Andrea Paplaski, Dean’s teaching partner for 22 years, said her favorite memory of Dean is of the two them singing Broadway show tunes – their unique response to something a student said.

The students loved Paplaski and Dean’s off-key singing and crazy dance moves, she said in the release.

Dean came to District 202 in 1962 as a fifth grader and eventually graduated from Plainfield High School – now Plainfield High School - Central Campus – in 1969.

District 202 hired Dean as a part-time teacher for both Indian Trail Junior High School (now Indian Trail Middle School) and Plainfield High School in 1973. He was about to accept a full-time position at Indian Trail when Grand Prairie Principal Howard Saar encouraged him to come to the elementary school, Dean said in the release.

Dean said teaching, not coaching, became his passion. Dean wound up coaching basketball, football and track “between Indian Trail, Joliet Junior College and Joliet Catholic Academy,” according to the release.

He taught at Grand Prairie for 44 years and may be the only teacher in District 202 who has taught at one school for most of his career. He especially enjoyed teaching second and third generations of students.

In the release, Dean said his motto was “Be honest with kids and have fun.”

“We can teach a lot of different ways,” Dean said in the release. “But if you’re not honest and you’re not having fun, how can you expect the kids to have fun?”

Grand Prairie Elementary School Principal Heather Whisler said in the release that the Grand Prairie community will miss Dean.

“His love for teaching students, his camaraderie of his team of educators and his commitment to our families attests to the character of who Mr. Dean is as a person, teacher and friend,” Whisler said in the release.

Grand Prairie might not miss Dean too long. Dean is considering volunteering at Grand Prairie during his retirement.

“I’d love to help all of the people that have helped me over the years,” Dean said in the news release.

Send emails for the memory book to apaplaski@psd202.org, and mail letters and pictures to Grand Prairie Elementary School (attention Mrs. P.), 3100 Caton Farm Road, Joliet, IL 60431. Submission deadline is May 7.