Ephrata High School teachers clash at karaoke

EPHRATA — In the end it could be said that Ephrata High School teachers Don Hendrixson and Dave Temple tied in the Great Karaoke Battle of 2016. The teacher sing-down was the payoff for EHS students at the end of the annual Toys for Teens drive.

Ephrata students raised $3,126 during the week-long charity drive, and added $65 that came in late, said ASB advisor Sam Byam. Students in the leadership class took the money and bought gifts for their fellow teens, which were donated to the Ephrata Food Bank for inclusion in the Christmas basket distribution.

Ephrata students have been raising money for Toys for Teens for about 10 years. Of course the contest comes with a prize, and the prize involves teachers doing something perhaps not in keeping with the dignity of the teaching profession. Hey, it’s tradition. Teachers have kissed farm animals, competed in a dance-off and braved a dunk tank in December. It’s involved a plate of whipped cream in the face – it was supposed to be the losing team, but somehow or other both teams ended up with whipped cream in the kisser.

Hendrixson said he agreed when the kids asked him to volunteer as a possible – emphasis on possible – participant in the sing-down. It’s a good cause, he said, and he didn’t think he would get picked.

The classes that finish first and second in competition pick the participating teachers. “So here I am,” Hendrixson said. He chose “Soul Man,” the 1967 classic by Isaac Hayes and David Porter that played a prominent role in the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers.” Hendrixson even rocked the Blues Brothers fedora, sunglasses, black suit and tie.

Temple chose Jason Aldean’s 2005 breakout song “In a Hick Town.” It was ugly Christmas sweater day at EHS, and Temple had one, complemented with a Santa hat.

Toys for Teens was inspired by a dilemma facing most adults when they’re buying for teens – they don’t have the faintest idea what teens want. The EHS leadership class back in the day noticed that was just as true for people buying gifts for Christmas baskets. They decided to fill that niche. Now it’s run by the ASB, and ASB officers use the money raised by the students to buy the presents for donation.

The kids couldn’t quite decide who won, so there was a duet, a song from the 2013 film “Frozen.” Byam said she chose her words carefully when making her pitch to the teachers – she promised there wouldn’t be a pie in the face, but she didn’t say it wouldn’t be embarrassing.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.