Working in harmony

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BRANSON MO NEWS:
By Patricia MiddletonNewton Kansan@kansanmiddleton

The legacy of music heard for more than three decades in the halls of Newton High School will come to an end this summer as Keith and Donna Woolery retire from teaching.Newton High School is where the couple first met — he was 17 and she was 15 when they started playing together in what was then called “stage band.””Of course, my parents didn’t want me dating that young, but we did anyway,” Donna Woolery said.Both went on to earn music education degrees from Emporia State University.”After Emporia, we went on the road — we had our own band,” Donna Woolery said.Over the next 10 years, the Woolerys teamed up with other musicians, touring through 39 states and Canada.”It’s a hard lifestyle; you have to have high moral standards,” Donna Woolery said. “But it was really fun.”Deciding they wanted to settle down and raise a family, the Woolerys returned to Newton. Keith Woolery began working for his father as an electrical contractor, but both knew teaching music was what they really wanted to do.”We never thought we’d get a job in the same town, ever,” Donna Woolery said.The Woolerys were both certified to teach K-12 in vocal and instrumental music, and when a position opened up at Newton High School, Keith Woolery applied.Donna Woolery worked as a substitute teacher and taught at St. Mary Catholic School, then applied for the vocal music teaching job that opened at NHS a few months after Keith Woolery started teaching there.”He started the year before I did,” Donna Woolery said.”So I got first choice,” Keith Woolery said with a smile.The Woolerys were concerned about whether the school would allowed a married couple to work together.”They’d never done that; they’d never done …



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