Redwood Junior High School Vice Principal Dale Borgeson has his passport photo taken in a Los Gatos camera store. He will be joining the Peace Corps in November in Namibia, his first time overseas.
Dale Borgeson will plant his philanthropic footprints in the recently liberated country of Namibia near South Africa, where he will educate the educators of primary school children through the Peace Corps' teacher trainer program.
Assistant principal leaves for Peace Corps and Africa
It's the chance of a lifetime, says Dale Borgeson
By Cecily Barnes
Redwood Middle School Assistant Principal Dale Borgeson will wave goodbye to friends, family and his position in the Saratoga Union School District this November, when he sets out on a two-year Peace Corps mission. Borgeson will plant his philanthropic footprints in the recently liberated country of Namibia near South Africa, where he will educate the educators of primary school children through the Peace Corps' teacher trainer program.
"It may sound corny," Borgeson said, "but I have this desire to do something that I consider to be important and giving to people. I've been fortunate throughout my whole life, and I want the opportunity to give some of that back."
Borgeson will be taking a two-year leave of absence. While he has been guaranteed a position in the district upon his return, the position is not necessarily that of assistant principal.
"I am postponing my career," Borgeson acknowledged, "but I don't see this as something opposite of my career or my goals."
In fact, Borgeson is so certain that his benevolent mission will be a personal and professional asset that he has been hastening the process to get the most bang for his buck.
"My thought is that if I don't do it now, it's a dream that may never get realized," Borgeson explained. "If it's going to be a life-changing experience, I'd like to get as much benefit as I can."
Borgeson began seriously thinking about the Peace Corps three or four years ago. He had been in the public school system 10 years already and felt the clock ticking. His decision not to buy a new home when he moved to Saratoga last October somewhat sealed his fate.
"[My house] was a physical tie," he explained. "[Selling] it was the last thing that freed me up to do this."
Since his trip became official in June, Borgeson has been slowly preparing for his departure. In addition to selling his car and arranging to loan his truck to his brother, Borgeson has been bidding farewell to the staff, parents and kids at Redwood Middle School.
"It's definitely with mixed feelings that I do this," Borgeson said, "because the people and the students and the community have been so supportive and active. That's why my hope is to come back."
Borgeson also is leaving behind his two brothers, two sisters and six nieces and nephews, of whom he speaks with utmost affection.
"They're like the jewels in my life," he said. "That will be a big loss."
Borgeson will live modestly in Namibia, exchanging his Saratoga residence and principal's salary for primitive living quarters and a monthly sum that will place him at the economic level of the Namibian villagers, 47 percent of whom live in poverty.
"They say I'll either be living in a mud hut with a thatch roof, no running water or electricity, or a similar situation with a family," Borgeson explained.
Is he nervous about packing away his coffee maker and modem?
"Yes I am, definitely," Borgeson admitted. "Part of this is a personal challenge and personal growth. If you stay within your comfort zone then your growth won't be as great.
"Some people will say this is a little extreme," he added with a laugh.
Those around Borgeson can't say enough good things about him.
"He's a very special professional and a very special person," said Redwood Principal Dick Derby. "It's going to be a shock not seeing his face around here."
And while Derby and Borgeson's other colleagues are sad to see him go, they wish him nothing but the best.
"We're very happy for him," said Derby, "because it's been a lifelong dream of his."
Even those Peace Corps experts who have never met Borgeson are impressed with his commitment to education.
"[The Redwood job] is a good position for someone his age," commented Peace Corps publicist Cammie Noah. "It's pretty cool for someone to give up their status in the hierarchy to go overseas."
"I think he has his heart and his head in the right place," said George St.Clair, a Saratoga resident, educator and previous Peace Corps volunteer. "I'm impressed that someone would give up a position in Saratoga as a vice principal in one of the best school districts in town."
Borgeson's colleagues are also very proud. At the school board meeting when Borgeson's leave of absence was confirmed, they glowed with pride and admiration, assuring Borgeson that he was facing an opportunity to change the world.
Borgeson will bid Saratoga farewell this November, joining the children and educators in Namibia.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, September 11, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved