Dr. Dennis has had a 36-year career that took him from teaching in small public schools in southwest Idaho to Puerto Rico and Illinois, and then returning to his native state as a district administrator in Boise, Idaho. During his entire professional career, Dr. Dennis was an outspoken advocate for programs that emphasized applied learning. Because of his strong belief that most people learn by "doing rather than thinking about doing", he supported and helped implement off-school site classrooms in malls and hospitals; partnerships with trade unions, small business, and industry; and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher learning. The success of these programs culminated in the construction of the Dehryl A. Dennis Professional Technical Center, which opened in 1999 and presently serves approximately 900 students from 16 area high schools. Appointed in 1976 as Director of Personnel, he later served as Assistant Superintendent and then Deputy Superintendent until he was appointed District Superintendent in 1994. He remained as Superintendent until his retirement in July 1999. |