Christy Clark and her husband, Bud, are ready for a new adventure.
They are ready for a life of sand and sun, and a more relaxed living pace.
That’s why Christy Clark has resigned as director of vocal music at Neosho High School effective at the end of the school year after five years in the position.
Her husband, Bud Clark, also recently announced his plan to retire after a long career in the Missouri Southern State University music department, where he has served as the school’s director of chorale studies since 1988, and, at one time, served as department head.
Christy Clark said she and her husband have traveled to Hawaii each year for the past six years and they fell in love island life. With the last of their five children set to graduate from high school this spring, Clark said it was “perfect time” to venture out and try living the dream vacation.
“Bud has always wanted to write a book, and moving to Hawaii has always been our dream thing to do,” Clark said. “It was just perfect timing in our life to do this, and venture out. He is going to try and write that book he has always wanted to write, and he also wants to get involved with the tourism industry there.
“I plan to teach when I get over there. There is a real need for special education there, but if there is a music position open, I would obviously love to do that.”
The couple plans to live on the island of Oahu, home of the state’s capitol city of Honolulu.
“We are planning to take a year to settle in,” Clark said. “When we have grandkids later on in life, I am sure we will travel more back and forth, but our plan is to always have a place in Hawaii — we love it there that much.”
The Clarks have a combined five children, from previous marriages, ranging in age from 18 to 26.
Clark said it was difficult to tell her school family about their plans to move to Hawaii this summer.
“The seniors this year, I have had those students all the way up from when they were in eighth grade,” said Clark, who taught three years prior to Neosho at Joplin High School. “It is going to get even more difficult at the end of the year. I have watched some of my students evolve from bratty eighth graders to wonderfully mature, great kids with bright futures in front of them. It was hard telling the kids, but they are excited for me, too. They are worried about the program, but I am going to do everything I can to replace this position with someone really sharp.”
Clark admits that the island life might not be all fun and sun once the couple lives in Hawaii full time, but that’s all part of the adventure.
Neosho, Mo. —
