15 minutes with Marc Shaner

What year did you graduate from Bluffton High School?
1996.

It's been quite a while since we've talked last. Update yourself, please. 
My wife, Heather, and I live in Bradley, Ill.. Bradley is approximately 50 miles south of Chicago. I have lived here for the last 16 years (since I graduated from college).

What do you do for a living?
I am in my second year as principal at Central High School in Clifton, Ill. Central has approximately 335 students, so it is very comparable to Bluffton High School in size. Prior to becoming principal, I spent a year as assistant principal at Central and before that five years as a junior high teacher in a different district. 

After graduating college in 2000, I spent eight years as sports information director at Olivet Nazarene University. I also have a few side jobs I do, but they are more for fun than anything else.

How long have you been married?

Heather and I have been married for nearly 12 years. We have one son, Ethan, who is two.

When was the last time you were in Bluffton?
I was last in Bluffton this past summer for a baby shower for my cousin (Phil Keeler). I love returning to Bluffton, but it doesn’t happen as often as I would like.

Seen any good movies lately?
The last movie I saw in the theater was Jurassic Park, which was pretty good. I never saw the original Jurassic Park.

When people ask where you grew up, how do you describe Bluffton?
Bluffton is a small community of about 4,000 people. It is a great place to raise a family. The morals and values of the community (school, churches, businesses, citizens) gave me the compass to be successful wherever I landed in life. I can’t speak highly enough of my time in Bluffton. It will always be home to me.

Who do you stay in contact with from your days at BHS?
I communicate with Eric Smith periodically. He lives in Geneva, Ill., so we have talked about meeting up at some point. I keep in contact with Sam Brauen and Kara (Gratz) Zink from time-to-time.

Can you remember who you sat beside in first grade?
I know it was in Mrs. Lortz’s class. I don’t recall who. Perhaps either Tim or Tom Suter?

What was your favorite lunch in the cafeteria?
Am I able to have three?

Go ahead.
The rectangular school pizza (I still get that), Mexican pizza (fiestada?) and the chef salads at the elementary school were all lunches I enjoyed.

Did you ever think you’d be a high school principal?
Not at all. Growing up I never wanted to get into education. I went to college and got a degree in speech communication (radio emphasis). It wasn’t until I started teaching that I gave it a thought to get a master’s in School Leadership.

How often do you go to Alaska to visit your parents?
I don’t get up to Alaska very often any more. I spent a couple summers working at Echo Ranch Bible Camp, where my parents were missionaries. Since they retired, Heather, Ethan and I have been to Ketchikan once.