Buffalo Island Central is a school with many long standing traditions, however it is clear that the school has evolved as the years pass. Mr. Randy Rose has been working in the education system for 28 years, and has been working here at Buffalo Island Central for 25 of those years.  He is currently in his 22nd year as principal for the district.

  This little community is home to him; he was born in Leachville and attended school there before the consolidation took place. Mr. Rose’s own children went to Buffalo Island while growing up, so he is quite familiar with our rural area.

Rose felt like teaching and educating was what he was supposed to be doing; he had the need to help students learn and achieve success. After high school, Mr. Rose worked on a Coca- Cola delivery truck, but went back to school so he could achieve his dream of working for BIC. Mr. Rose has three degrees now: A  Bachelor’s of Science in Education, a Master’s of Science in Education, and a Specialist in Education.

Working for as long as he has in the system gives him the advantage to observe the changes in teaching that have taken place over the past two decades.  “The system has gone from being centered and old school with pencil and paper, to the use of more technology, and project based learning” said Mr. Rose.

Educators try to keep up with all the new and upcoming technology, but it’s not just the technology that has changed. According to Mr. Rose,  even the art of teaching in general has changed over time. It has become more specific, and the material that students are expected to learn has increased in difficulty far more than it was 25 years ago.

Not only has he seen changes in the education system overall, he has also seen changes specifically in the Buffalo Island area.  According to Mr.  Rose, the population of our three small communities no longer have truly migrant students attending B.I.C.  due to the changing demographics of those who come to work in the agricultural jobs available in the community.

Working for the school as long as Mr. Rose has, you get to see generations of families growing up over time; he even claims that almost every student in this highschool is at least a second generation in the community. He now gets to teach the children of many of his former students. “I think that’s a unique thing seeing that, and seeing them grow up, ” said Mr.  Rose.