Members of the Warren County R-III School District and people in the broader community are mourning the loss of Allan Dreyer, a longtime educator and administrator who was a current member of the board of education.Dreyer, 70, passed away unexpectedly last weekend while in Virginia for a wedding, according to school district officials. Dreyer was a former assistant principal at Warrenton High School and then principal at the junior high for a combined 20 years. He retired in 2001.Before becoming an administrator, Dreyer served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1974, after which he started as a math teacher, the school district said. After retiring, he remained involved with community organizations, serving as president of the Warrenton Chamber of Commerce for four years. He continued working as a substitute teacher until his passing.Dreyer was first elected to the board of education in 2016.Over the course of more than 30 years in education, generations of students had Dreyer as a teacher or school administrator, or shook his hand as a member of the board as they crossed the graduation stage.“It’s going to be very difficult to believe for a while that he’s not with us,” said Franci Schwartz, a fellow school board member who first met Dreyer as a student in his high school geometry class. She recalled that he was always respectful and caring, had a frequent sense of humor, and was a patient teacher for struggling students.“He just wouldn’t give up on us. He was determined he was going to find a way to get us to catch on and understand,” Schwartz remembered.As a member of the school board, she said Dreyer’s every decision was based on what would be best for children in the schools. His dedication to community service was something he carried with him his entire life, Schwartz commented.Sherry Brandes, president of the Daniel Boone Area Retired Teachers and Public School Personnel Association, said she worked with Dreyer throughout her 31 years in education.“He was a joy to work with. He was very caring, concerned, listened well, tried to help when he could,” Brandes said. “He always had a smile or a grin on his face.”As an administrator, she remembers Dreyer as attentive and diligent, someone who could observe an entire class lecture and keep perfect notes in good handwriting. He didn’t shy away from discipline, but was never mean-spirited and always tried to be fair with teachers and students.“He wanted the kids to recognize their responsibility and serve whatever punishment was doled out, but he wanted them to understand that it was their actions that led to that,” Brandes explained.Dreyer was an active member of the retired teachers association, helping organize community service activities and many fundraisers for student scholarships. Brandes remarked that Dreyer also was fond of playing Santa at Christmas parties.He was proud of his service to his country and community, proud of his family, and never lost his joy for teaching. That’s why he continued to work as a substitute.“He couldn’t stay out of the classroom. ... He dearly loved being around students,” Brandes said.With Dreyer’s unexpected passing, leaders of the school district are adjusting to the reality of his loss.“We’re really going to miss Allan,” said R-III Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith. “He was a great asset to the board and the community. He was a pillar in the education world.”The board is now faced the with the decision of how to move forward with the void left by Dreyer’s death.“They’ll have two options,” said Klinginsmith. “One is to not fill that position and just wait until the April election. The other is to appoint somebody to fill the rest of the term and have an election in April for the two-year term.”Klinginsmith said members of the board will discuss how to handle Dreyer’s position, and likely won’t take action on it until their regular monthly meeting in October.Funeral arrangements for Dreyer are being provided by Pitman Funeral Home in Warrenton. Visitation will be at the funeral home Sunday, Sept. 22, from 1-7 p.m. A funeral service will take place at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 950 S. Highway 47 in Warrenton, on Monday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m.

Allan Dreyer

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