A send-off for Keith Banks is planned for Aug. 27 at High Cedars Golf Course in Orting. Those interested in attending can call 360-829-3814 for ticket information.

In 1967, the Beatles released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” That’s how Keith Banks opened his retirement letter to the White River School District’s board of directors and Superintendent Janel Keating.

It was also the year Banks’ love affair with White River began as a student moving into middle school from the big city of Puyallup. The district and community would have a life-lasting impact on him.

“The year after I graduated from White River High School the boys basketball team placed first in the state A basketball tournament,” Banks wrote. “While that game was being played at the UPS Fieldhouse, anyone could have come to Buckley and stolen the whole town. Everyone was at that game. And, in those days, all the doors would have been unlocked, too. It is this feeling of closeness with a small community that helped me flourish while attending high school and start me on a positive path in my life.”

Coming out of Pacific Lutheran University, Banks entertained offers from other school districts, but his roots and friendships in Buckley won out and he began his career as a White River Middle School math teacher.

He later taught at the high school and became the part-time parks director. Eventually, he become White River High School’s athletic director, assistant principal and in 1990, principal, where he oversaw construction of the current high school. In 2004, he became the district’s executive director of Human Resources and Operations.

That adds up to 41 years with the White River School District, a bit more than 36 as an employee.

“He has been a great servant to this district and always has the students’ best interest at heart,” Keating said. “I will miss him. I counted on him to treat people the way they should be treated.”

Dameon Marlow, a WRHS teacher and president of the White River Education Association, praised Banks’ ability to see the people behind the issues. “He looks at the human side of everything that comes up, which is so nice – not everything is black and white,” Marlow said.

“I’ve always preached that if you work hard and get along with others, good things happen to you,” Banks said. “I think God gave me a little more than I deserve for some reason, but I’m grateful and thankful.”

The way he treated people helped him negotiate contracts and hire staff in his final role at White River.

“I’m honest with people and respectful. I believe everybody is worth something and everyone is good until they prove differently,” he said. “I think it’s been a good move, challenging at times with administrative cutbacks.”

Those cutbacks expanded his role into operations – transportation, risk management, food services – all, he said, he learned about intimately.

“As an employee and a parent I have always been impressed with the people in the White River School District. No organization is stronger than the people who work in the organization. From my perspective White River School District has been blessed with people who care,” he said.

But in those decades, building the new high school sticks with Banks as the most challenging and most rewarding.

“That was one of the toughest professional year of my life, building a high school and being principal,” he said. “I consider it a major accomplishment. At the time, it was a state-of-the-art facility. We were giving kids the best they could have,” he added. “I was excited for our kids and the potential.

“Even when I’m talking about it, it doesn’t give justice to the magnitude of what was happening at the time.”

He credits Mike Hagadone for coming in as principal and pulling it all together.

Hagadone is one of those people Banks says continues the legacy others had left for him.

“People build on the work that you do,” he said.

Addressing retirement, Banks gets a little misty. He plans to spend it as a spectator at the events of his five children and 17 grandchildren, who remain in the area. His experience as a White River student was passed along to his children and he believes will be passed along to theirs.

“As a parent I am most appreciative of the experiences of my own children while attending White River,” he said. “I know if it hadn’t been for the personal attention given to them by all staff members and the great leadership in the district they may have turned out very differently. I have no words that describe my appreciation. It is what I wish all children to experience and for all parents to trust will happen for their child while attending White River.”

Other changes on the way

In July, Hagadone, who moved from the high school to the district office a few years ago, will expand his role as assistant superintendent to oversee day-to-day district operations.

It’s part of several changes at the administrative level. With Banks’ retirement, former WRHS Vice Principal Scott Harrison will move from Director of School Improvement into Banks’ role and recently-hired Andrew Schwebke will fill the new position of Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Technology.