Valentine’s Day offers the perfect reason to celebrate love and for one Dublin couple, that love is rooted in education.
Cedric and Julie Ivie were just young’uns when they met and began officially dating in high school— her as a freshman, him as a junior.
Julie can recall the exact moment when Cedric asked her to officially “go steady” – Oct. 3, 1996 while sitting on the rock wall outside of the old Dublin High School.
Neither one knew that with that first step, their love story would begin – with a life intertwined with Dublin ISD, encompassing more than 27 years together.
Continuing to date each other throughout high school and college, both attended Tarleton University, focusing on education degrees.
“We dated through that whole time,” Julie said.
After graduating high school in 1998, Cedric graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a math emphasis from Tarleton in 2002. He attained his masters of educational administration in 2011 from Tarleton and his superintendent certificate in 2014.
Julie graduated Dublin High School in 2000, and Tarleton in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary studies (pre-k -6th grade) with an ESL certification. Over the years she has taught first, third and fourth grades along with a year of elementary reading intervention.
Cedric proposed to Julie on Oct. 3, 2001. Then they got married March 15, 2003 and are approaching their 20 year anniversary.
Dublin ISD is inextricably tied with their passion for each other and for education.
Both are long-time educators for Dublin ISD – Cedric has worked for DISD for 21 years and Julie has been working for the district for 17 years. Currently, Julie is a 1st grade teacher and Cedric is the assistant principal at the high school, formerly teaching 7th grade math for 11 years.
One special memory is the six Dublin ISD proms the couple has attended with one another.
In high school, they attended prom four times (two for his junior and senior year and two for Julie’s) and two as chaperones.
“I know I was pretty young when we started dating, we both were, but our parents knew each other, and in fact, my dad has taught Cedric in fifth grade, so he knew he was a good one,” she said.
Also, in a uniquely sweet bit of family history, both of their great-grandmas use to play with each other as little girls from different families who enjoyed spending time together.
As one can imagine, the couple does discuss education and school at home a little bit, but they both make a concerted effort to focus on their lives outside of school.
As the proud parents of Carson, 17, Addison, 13 and Branson, 8, they stay busy since all of their kids are active in different ways. Carson plays basketball, Addison is an 8th grade cheerleader and participates in pageants and Branson is a third grader that plays pee wee sports. All attend Dublin ISD.
Julie offered some advice to couples, especially those who are married.
“Put God first in your marriage. Pray for each other and trust God,” she said. “No marriage is perfect, you have to work at it and that takes both people.”
In a relationship, she said, it’s important to talk through things and try to make time for one another. Having date nights with someone to watch the kids also needs to be a priority.
For Valentine’s Day, the couple usually does just that – going to movie and out to dinner.
“He’s always been sweet to me and in high school he would always send me flowers for Valentine’s Day,” she said.
These days, though those gifts are received and appreciated, just getting to share time with each other without interruptions is a more cherished gift according to Julie.
Dublin brought the couple together and provided the backdrop for many special memories from meeting at the rock wall at the school to quiet nights as partners and parents.