Page 97 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine

Air Force
VietnAm WAr erA
GulF WAr

Ivan is the fifth eldest of ten children and one of five
surviving. He is a man of few words but well respected
by many. He is the husband of his high school sweetheart,
and they have built an amazing and balanced life for their
son, Isaac, and daughter, Tracy, and the apples of his eye,
his grandsons—Jonathan and Joshua.
So far, the greatest accomplishment I have had as a writer
is writing this article. Ivan Cole’s experience and years in
the USAF not only shaped who he is and what he does, it
is the foundation on which my life was built. Ivan Cole is
my Daddy-o.

Ivan Cole continues to uphold the core values of the Air
Force—Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence
in All We Do. Thank you for your service and thank you
for the example you set not only for me but for anyone
who has the pleasure of knowing you.

Detention Center (Post), a part of Mullen ISD.
He began as a teacher in 2008 and has been the
principal of the school since 2012. The public
school is a residential facility for young people
who have found their way into the criminal
justice system. Among other things, Mr. Cole
and his staff oversee drug and alcohol treatment,
vocational training, mental health treatment, and
family-integrated counseling.
One of the best things about Ivan is that, despite
their situation, he treats the students like they are
normal children. He respects and protects their
privacy, but also provides them opportunities to
enjoy things that kids like. He created a program
called “Bold Gold Treats” to encourage students
to do more than what is expected in the classroom.

One Saturday, he said he was going to work.
When I inquired why he would go on his day off,
he said, “Some of the inmates don’t get a visit
from their family often.” On that Saturday, Ivan
was allowing them to help clean the classrooms
and detention center and “paying” them with
their favorite treats—Takis Chips and Hot
Cheetos. That’s the type of man that Ivan Cole is.

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