Beloved South Lake Tahoe teacher retires

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the past 27 years, Frank Kovac has been with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD).

When he landed in South Lake Tahoe Kovac already had spent time teaching at Fairfax High School, Emerson Junior High, James Rutter Middle School, and Paul Revere Middle School, but he found his niche beginning locally at South Tahoe Middle School.

After one year at STMS Kovac took the position as athletics and activities director at South Tahoe High School (STHS), a position he held for five years.

"I missed being around the kids on a daily basis," said Kovac. He moved into the English Department, one of his favorite subjects to teach. "Teaching English was the most satisfying as there is more room for getting to know the kids."

Many know him from his years as the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) teacher, something he found very satisfying, as well, since kids are able to reach their potential and do more, he said as they seek post-high school education.

He was also an integral part of the high school's Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) team that brought them back into good accreditation standing after major changes in the structure of teaching at STHS.

Kovac, who is one of seven children, grew up in Orange, California where his mother still resides. His siblings are spread out from Michigan and Texas to San Diego. The family still has a vacation home in Christmas Valley so they are able to get together every summer.

While at UCLA he was captain of the school's men's heavyweight crew. They went on to win the 1980 Western Sprints Regatta.

"I am really proud of that," said Kovac.

He and his wife Heather are parents to Ross and Sean, two boys they adopted while he was teaching at STHS.

When asked what his most memorable time with LTUSD was, Kovac said the support from friends and colleagues during that adoption process stands out the most.

"They circled the wagons and gave us amazing support to get through the ordeals. How incredibly lucky to have that love and support from people," he said.

He also highlights the support his wife Heather gave him while teaching. There were many late nights when he was director and years of classroom work.

"Heather kept everything going at home," said Kovac.

They have no big plans for retirement, yet. Son Sean is now a senior so there should be one more year of football games, but with the pandemic that schedule is uncertain at this time.

He said they will now have the time to be spontaneous with day trips and other adventures created by the additional flexibility.

"The plan was to have no plan, enjoy the gift of time now," said Kovac. He will be doing things around the house, things that he's always wanted to do but never had the time - reread some of his favorite books and spend more time with his wife.

His new duties at home will also include his helping out with Heather's jewelry business, RearView Miracles. Kovac said he will be her one and only (unpaid) employee, helping with shipping and marketing.

His last year in the classroom didn't go exactly as planned with the coronavirus moving instruction to a digital format. Even though it offered an easier transition into retirement, he didn't like seeing some of the students struggling in the new "classroom." It created a predictable routine for most, but he said some kids found it hard to instantly become organized and stay on top of things while also facing challenges at home.

"It was hard for a lot to succeed," Kovac said of digital teaching. "It wasn't their fault and they were asked to do things they hadn't practiced. There was a lack of opportunity for kids to ask questions."

"I like in-person teaching better," he added. "But, we made it work."

Kovac said it was fun being at school when kids were there and he will miss that.