Dr. Robert Bilyeu has spent much of his life teaching and believes in making a difference in each student’s life. Unfortunately, Bilyeu has decided to part ways with Springfield Public Schools (SPS).
“I don’t like the direction curriculum is taking in SPS, I don’t like the curriculum they are asking me to teach. The institution and I are growing apart. I have decided I am taking early retirement,” Bilyeu said.
Bilyeu has been a member of our school’s community for many years.
“I started teaching in 1988 if you count student teaching, and I have only taken six years off within that time. I taught for 13 to 14 years at Missouri State University and at Kickapoo for 14 years,” Bilyeu said.
Bilyeu mostly teaches upperclassmen. He aims to prepare them for the real world as well as promoting actual enjoyment of the subjects he teaches.
“At Kickapoo, I’ve taught English III and English IV, Film as Literature, Contemporary Literature, Grammar and Composition, as well as Capstone for a few semesters.” Bilyeu said.
Anyone who takes Bilyeu’s classes can appreciate the way he teaches them, allowing you to grow as a student, and not conforming to the busywork structure that many classes at our school follow.
“I think public education can be all busy work. It’s like being in a Russian gulag and crushing rocks all day for no reason. Why? Because they said so. In that context the sane thing is to do as little as you can. My goal as a teacher is to prove to kids that this is not a rock-crushing plant. I want to do things that are worth your engagement,” Bilyeu said.
Bilyeu’s methods have made a change in many students’ lives, encouraging them to love to learn about things that interest them. Senior Olivia Beck is currently in Bilyeu’s Grammar and Composition class, and she believes that his absence from our school will be detrimental.
“I am going to be very sad when he retires. I feel like he is the first teacher that has prepared me for the real world. We have done work that is similar to college classes. He is one of the only teachers that respects me as a young adult and a student. I feel like he’s had an extremely positive impact on Kickapoo since we got here,” Beck said.
One of Bilyeu’s favorite memories from his time at our school is helping a ‘difficult’ student.
“It was really early in my career. It was English III. There was this kid who wanted me to think he was tough, and he would sit in the back of class with a baseball hat and his arms crossed. I spent time trying to show this kid I was on his team. It turns out he was actually just reshaping his life and had a lot to talk about. He was arrested the previous summer, and he told me about it. I told him he needed to write about it. He wrote this dynamite narrative essay. This was a kid who always struggled in English class, and he discovered that he could use writing for himself and his creativity. I am still in touch with him, and he’s doing great now. It was nice to help him enjoy school for once,” Bilyeu said.
The thing that Bilyeu will miss the most about teaching is the students, and being able to impact each of them in a positive way. His teaching philosophy is what makes his classes unique, and a breath of fresh air for students.
“I really care that students actually learn and are doing stuff that is interesting to them. I want to unlock English and help them benefit from it. I try to deinstitutionalize my subjects and make them into something that actually benefits students,” Bilyeu said.
After retiring, Mr Bilyeu will continue his music career, as part of the well known local band, the HillBenders.
“I am going to continue playing music, but even if you are very successful it doesn’t pay much. I decided I am not going to think about that until I am done here. I’ve scheduled myself three days to panic about what I am going to do,” Bilyeu said.
Overall, Bilyeu is sad to let go of the teaching part of his life, but he will surely find new ways to make an impact in the future.
“I am very much going to miss teaching. I am going to miss the students. I have spent most of my life in an academic setting and I am going to miss that,” Bilyeu said.
