Albert Ayars, former schools chief, dies
Albert Ayars dedicated 43 years of his life to public education, always searching for new ways to teach.
The superintendent of Spokane Public Schools from 1965 through 1972, Ayars died May 27 in Kirkland, Wash. He was 86.
A native of the Inland Northwest, Ayars was born in Kettle Falls in 1917 and graduated from high school there. He earned a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Master of Arts and doctorate from Washington State University. During that time, he also worked as a student teacher at Rogers High School.
He began his career in education in 1940, teaching English and drama at Davenport High School, while also coaching debate teams to the state championship.
From there, he served as principal of Colville High School from 1942-1945, then became superintendent of schools at Omak and then Sunnyside.
In 1952, he moved to New York City and served on the Joint Council on Economics Education for a year before joining Hill & Knowlton’s educational research department. From there, he returned to Eastern Washington.
While in Spokane, he kept an open-door policy. In his autobiography, “Memories of 75 Years,” he wrote about starting a “student senate” in which he’d meet monthly with representatives from the district’s junior and senior high schools to talk about student concerns and educational issues. He took part in neighborhood potluck meetings held in community members’ homes, to keep his ears open to citizen concerns. He made cultural diversity a priority long before many others even recognized the need. He started broadcasting school board meetings and started the practice of choosing and honoring a public school district staffer of the year.
“He was good at getting citizens involved in education,” said Bill Riggs, who was superintendent of the Cheney School District while Ayars was in Spokane. “He was always someone you could talk to.”
John Warn joined Spokane’s school board in 1967 and remembered Ayars as gracious and sincere.
“He was so interested in the educational system and doing what is right,” he said. “We became co-workers in education and also good friends.”
Warn said he continued corresponding with Ayars even after he left Spokane.
“He was a great letter writer,” he said.
After his time as Spokane’s superintendent, Ayars became superintendent for the Norfolk, Va., public schools, tackling a federally mandated challenge to integrate the schools. His 43 years of service to education were characterized by his implementation of work-study programs, using community resources and volunteers in schools and teaching foreign languages in elementary school classes.
Ayars wrote six professional books, including “Administering the People’s Schools,” a book of poetry and dozens of articles. He has been a visiting professor and lecturer at universities throughout the country. Honors include the American Association of School Administrators’ highest honors and the WSU alumni achievement award, which he received in 1989. He ate dinner with four U.S. presidents and served on the White House Conference on Education.
Ayars retired in 1983 and moved to Kirkland with his wife, Louise, his campus sweetheart. He continued to consult, write and travel the world. Until the last two years, Ayars drove to Pullman for most Cougar home games.
He is survived by his wife, their eight children and their families: Cherie and Howard Holman of Kirkland and their children Judy Burkhart and Hugh Holman; Judy and Jim Templeman of Kirkland; Lee and Sandy Ayars and their son, Albert Lee Ayars III of Spokane; Dani Jo and Rich Alexander of Twin Falls, Idaho, and their sons Steve, Mike, Scott and Ben; Gary and Wendy Ayars of Redmond and their children Drew and Shannon; Debbie and Jim Dillon of Virginia Beach, Va., and their daughters Megan Corigliano and Bridget; Teddi and Frank Crotti and their sons Bo and Theo of Corvallis, Ore.; Darlene and Wes Feazell and their children Brittany and Tyler Dick, and Grace Feazell of Charlottesville, Va.
Ayars was preceded in death by his brother, Larry.