Lake retires after 23 years at WISD

If you don’t know the name Kirk Lake, you must not have had a child attending Wimberley High School in the past couple of decades. His span includes a short retirement, which didn’t last too long, only to be back teaching Wimberley High School students a few years later.

“I started here in 1992 and have spent the heart of my life here,” Kirk Lake, teacher, coach, mentor, and friend to many, said. “Both my girls have graduated from here.” Mention his name to anyone who has had contact with him, as a teacher, co-worker or parents and the usual reaction is a smile and kind thoughts.

He does that to you. Whether adult or student, he’ll find some common chord with you that leads to great insights and excellent conversation. He started teaching at very small schools and teaching special needs students. He moved to Austin and taught at the State School for the Deaf for two years before making his way to Wimberley. After 23 years with WISD, he has taught for 37 years altogether.

Lake was born in Greenville, Texas but was raised in Dallas and the Oak Cliff area. Surrounded by the area’s blues musicians, he grew up attending schools that also included Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Music is still very important and has been a lifelong passion. He has even been known to play guitar and sing occasionally in Austin.

“My ties to the Hill Country, that goes back to the summers I spent in Bandera at my aunt’s ranch where I rode horses and learned to love the Hill Country.” High school then happened, and it was time for a big change.

“I was married for 44 years. My wife Cathy and I were high school sweethearts. I always felt we grew up together…deeply in love.”

He graduated from UT with a degree in Education, History, Political Science and Anthropology. A well rounded liberal arts major in every sense of the word. He and his wife raised two girls and as is the life of a high school coach, he was busy all the time.

Courses that he has taught at WHS included AP History, Humanities and 6th grade Culture. As a UIL Academic coach his teams have won five State Championships in Social Studies/Current Events and were State Runner-ups six times with four individual State Champs.

Beyond the classroom, he was also a coach. He held coaching positions at various schools in Texas for football, volleyball, girls’ basketball, track and field events, cross country, and boys’ basketball.

“Of all my coaching, Cross Country was my favorite. I really loved it, being accessible to students and filling a niche for many students.” He told of a former student that sent him a letter expressing her gratitude to him. He coached her for four years before realizing she was a long distance runner, an event in which she excelled in later in both high school cross country and long distance track.

When his wife passed away, it was tough on him and he tried retirement for a short period. It didn’t stick. “The last few years have been rough, but I’m resilient.”

Life has also gotten better with his girlfriend Sharon of two years. “We travel, play music together, the hobbies we share, I’m pretty happy…she and I sing together, and occasionally I’ll sing a song onstage with her.” Sharon is a member of Austin’s music group the Studebakers.

In Lake’s retirement, both of them will be traveling to Thailand and Viet Nam in the near future, and will continue to attend folk festivals and of course spend time with friends and family. Singing all the time.

“And because of family, I’ll always consider this my real home, and I am extremely grateful to the school district to give me the freedom to work at my craft and to meet my potential as a teacher,” Lake said.