After 35 years of inspiring students and fellow educators, the Golden Owl is retiring from his storied career.
Ag teacher Darren Price’s last day at Dublin ISD was Friday and he was joined by administration, coworkers, students and families for a reception in the Secondary School cafeteria Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Chief among the guests were his wife, Rhonda, their children and two grandchildren. Price said he is looking forward to getting to babysit in his retirement as well as working in the shop in his backyard.
Other than that, he will drive a bus and still help out at the annual stock show but decide just how full he’d like to keep his days as time goes on.
Price was “feeling pretty good” on the day of the reception but admitted he would probably start missing his students in a couple of weeks.
A native of Baird, Price attended Cisco Junior College before getting his bachelor’s and master’s in ag education from Tarleton State University. He taught at Lone ISD for 2 years and Stamford for 9 years before coming to Dublin where he has been for the last 24 years.
In that time, he developed a reputation both in the district and in the ag education community around the state. Fellow teacher Derek Dunlap and former Dublin ag teacher Kyla Benfer knew his reputation as FFA officers in the area in 2004-2005.
“Price was the wise ag teacher who had done everything when we were young,” Dunlap said. “It’s an honor to have worked with him.”
“To get to teach with him was like you were teaching with Jesus’ best friend,” Benfer echoed.
Price’s reputation was solidified in part by his time as Area IV FFA President, his years as a scholarship chairman and most recently, by his naming as Golden Owl teacher of the year for Area IV.
Benfer said Price always conducted himself with quiet compassion in working with students or fellow educators. Dunlap and fellow ag teacher Sophie Hayhurst both praised his patience with Dunlap saying he keeps his cool as he coaches others and Hayhurst saying he takes in all sides of a story before making a reasoned response.
Dunlap said he hopes Price finds fulfillment in retirement as his career has brought him appreciation over time and those that are retired need to find that type of gratification elsewhere.
Benfer said she knew he will enjoy being a grandparent but hoped that he will know the impact of his legacy.
“My mother passed recently and one of her quotes was, ‘you plant the seeds of shade trees you never get to sit under,’” Benfer said.
“Darren Price, you have so many groves and groves of trees and I am very blessed to be one of those to get to sit under the trees you planted. It’s amazing the amount of things you’ve done and your blessing will continue long beyond your years.”
Hayhurst agreed with both of these wishes and said she hopes he does what he wants when he wants whether that’s playing with the grandkids, working in his shop or just taking a nap.
Price’s hope for his students is they just continue the good work and listen to his teaching partners. “If they do what they advise, they’ll be successful as they’ve always been, Price said.
Price is grateful for the support Dublin has given as he taught and raised two kids in the community. “I’ve had a lot of good kids and teaching partners,” he said. “I’ve had lot of good influences to help me get where I’m at.”
Dunlap said the same and counted Price as one of the legends that taught him so much. Through those teachings, Price will continue to benefit the next crop of ag students through the ones who valued his mentorship so much.