*Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of The Messenger.
Dear Mr. Ryan:
Every once in awhile something comes down the pike that is so egregious that it is hard to imagine it actually happened. In the military, it is to desert one's post in the heat of battle. In the United States of America, it is trying to turn a Constitutional Republic into what we find in places like China, North Korea, Russia, and the Democrat Party. In K-12 education, it is taking our new Minnesota Social Studies Curriculum and a Marxist leaning state flag, and making our children believe that both Minnesota and the United States of America were built on lies (See American Experiment). And if that is not enough, members of the Kenyon-Wanamingo Hall of Fame Committee took the “face” of our high school program and added his name to the Hall of Fame Board even though he had broken the Cardinal Rule for the conduct of a school administrator. Shame on them!
As I reflect on over 50 years in public education, part of it included you as a student at Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools. Although I was never a principal in your building, I was there when you represented the school district with distinction. There was never a time when I questioned your resolve as a student athlete. Moreover, it is my understanding that you went on to distinguish yourself as an athlete in higher education as well. It was this kind of behavior that your respective alma maters took pride in. Sadly, you would end up letting them down.
Matt, when I look at the “Wall of Fame,” I see names like Mr. Lawrence G. Picha (He should have been the first name on the wall), Mr. Ralph Hagberg, Dr. Stephen Sands (a classmate of mine), Dr. Gary Strandemo, and a long list of men and women who were more than just athletes. While it is true that I do not know the history of most of them, two things are for sure. First, you broke the Cardinal Rule for principals when it came to your indiscretion with a member of your staff. And second, numerous students, parents, and members of the KW community I grew up in cannot believe you “beat the rap” and kept your job. Why? Because a school district deserves a leader who can stand before the public and the student body and leave no doubt as to what he/she brings to the table. This leads me to an important question. Where were the Superintendent of Schools and the KW School Board when they heard what had happened? If they had only done their job....
According to the Kenyon-Wanamingo Messenger and the Zumbrota News Record, you are scheduled to be inducted into the Kenyon-Wanamingo Athletic Hall of Fame on September 26, 2026. While I appreciate that your years as a wrestling coach were noteworthy, it does not change the fact that your indiscretion with a member of your staff (she was terminated) should disqualify you from the kind of recognition you are currently scheduled to receive.
Therefore, and based on the aforementioned, I delivered a letter to the school suggesting that you take the initiative to remove your name from consideration for membership to the Kenyon-Wanamingo Athletic Hall of Fame. With Minnesota's public education coming apart at the seams; with Kenyon-Wanamingo Public Schools long overdue for the kind of quality leadership that once made KHS something special, I offered you a chance to do the right thing or I would go public. Now that you have shown the gall to accept your award, an open letter is the least I can do as a retired educator who proudly claims Kenyon Public Schools as his alma mater.
Finally, and most importantly, the Bible teaches that those who influence others bear a greater responsibility before God. The book of James warns that “Teachers will be judged more strictly; Jesus warns against leading others astray” (Decision: The Evangelical Voice For Today). Matt, it is not only time for you to resign and remove yourself from being the face of the building, but it is time for a new start for KWPS. Just remember, “Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation” (Proverbs 14:9).
Respectfully yours,
Dr. James Russell Lehman, '63
Kenyon MN
