Doree Ward may be grand marshal in the homecoming parade, but she’s still in the driver’s seat

Doree Ward usually spends her homecoming parades behind the wheel of a convertible and chaperoning the grand marshal through town, and she insists on maintaining that tradition even though the retired Newton High School teacher has been chosen as this year’s grand marshal. She does have the keys after all.

“My car is the grand marshal car and has been for the past 17 years,” Ward said in a recent interview with Newton News. “So I’m going drive myself! I just hope people on the parade route understand the irony, the joke. I think it’s funny. People have yelled at me anyway no matter who was in the back of my car.”

The 1970 Dodge Challenger has been a mainstay in the parade, and its Plum Crazy-purple color scheme is easy to pick out of the crowd. Ward has always enjoyed taking the wheel during the parade, but to now be honored in this way is very humbling. She said it’s nice to know she still has some impact on students.

Ward officially retired from the Newton Community School District in May 2024. She worked at the district for 37 years teaching psychology, sociology, college prep psychology and driver’s education. Though she is retired, Ward still teaches the classroom portion of driver’s ed and announces for many girls sports.

So why did she decide to stay in Newton for so long? And why does she continue to be involved with the school district? Ward said the answer is simple: The kids.

“I wouldn’t trade the Newton kids for anybody,” she said. “I’ve taught at two other school districts, but I literally love Newton. I do.”

Compared to other school districts in the state, Ward said Newton Cardinals are the calm amongst chaos; heck, the students are just great. Even more so during homecoming week. Ward said it is fun to see how creative students can be during dress-up days. She always enjoyed making jokes about it with her students.

Homecoming never fails to be an exciting time for high schoolers. Ward said it was exciting for her when she was in high school, too, albeit a bit different.

“We didn’t have all the stuff that Newton does, like the dress-up days or any of that,” Ward said. “We built floats … Almost the whole class would show up and literally build the float. But this is great. The kids here get into it. The decorations are always well done and I like how they do the different hallways.”

Is Ward looking forward to the parade this year knowing she is sharing the spotlight? Well, of course! Ward is also just touched students still consider her a Cardinal.

“It’s just a very humbling experience to have the kids ask and want me to be that, so I’m very appreciative of that,” she said. “Once a cardinal, always a cardinal.”