A Surprise Career in Education
Deron Durflinger '91
Deron Durflinger graduated from Cardinal Community School in 1991 but he never quite left academics behind and is now superintendent of Van Meter Schools.
“I am confident very few of my classmates or teachers envisioned me being an educator, let alone a superintendent of a school,” Durflinger says. “I learned that if you set your mind on something, believe it can happen, and have the willingness or grit to put the work in to see that dream become a reality, you can really do whatever you want with your life.”
Though he didn’t initially imagine a career in education, a former superintendent, Mr. Whipple, talked Durflinger into coaching and his course was set.
“The relationships I built as a player and as a coach are why I have been in school my whole life,” Duflinger explains.
Durflinger was a Comet for all of his school years, from kindergarten to graduation where he enjoyed each step of his educational journey, from riding his bike to school in elementary, expanding his knowledge in middle school, and getting to know more peers in high school.
“I just had a great school experience overall,” Durflinger says. “There are too many great memories to only list a few, but most of my memories involved laughing at the stupid things we used to do.”
These happy memories are in part thanks to his teachers whom he fondly remembers, including several coaches that influenced him and teachers throughout his elementary, middle, and high school years.
“I think one thing that I experienced [at Cardinal] that I have tried to replicate in my own experiences as an educator is that the root of learning is relationships,” Durflinger says.”If we can build a school that has quality relationships for both students and adults, it will be a great experience for all.”
Those childhood experiences at Cardinal have helped him become the superintendent he is today, with a focus on his students.
“Academics are important, but helping kids become good people is what really matters,” Durflinger says. “My experiences at Cardinal helped me understand that.”
