UW College of Education Professor Emeritus Norma Dimmitt (M.A. '63) died of heart failure on May 18, 2005 at the age of 86. She is survived by her twin sister Elma, her sister, Ruth, her children Sharron, Gregory and Gayle, and two granddaughters.

Prof. Dimmitt earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education at the UW in 1959 and began teaching sixth grade at Ridgecrest Elementary School in the Shoreline District. She worked in Shorecrest High School's first counseling department after earning her master's degree in counseling from the UW in 1963. Dimmitt received her doctoral degree from Stanford University in 1969 and returned to the Shoreline District to work on testing and curriculum development. Dimmitt's next stop was the UW College of Education.

She served as the UW's director of student teaching for 15 years. During her tenure she helped develop an award winning program to increase the classroom time available to student teachers. Dimmitt's innovative program continues to influence teacher preparation programs today, more than 30 years after its creation.

In reflecting on her lifetime of experiences with the UW, Prof. Dimmitt wrote "all were good, but my 15 years as a professor at the College of Education surpass my earlier experiences." Her friends, colleagues and students at the College concur. Donations in her honor may be made to the Edmonds Aid Car Fund, 121 Fifth Ave. N., Edmonds, WA 98020.

Former Lake Stevens School District superintendent Donald Oates (M.A. '51) died on August 5, 2005 due to complications associated with a bone-marrow disease. He was 92. He is survived by his wife Jeanne, two stepchildren, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Dr. Oates spent 17 years as the superintendent of Lake Stevens Schools. He received his bachelor's degree in education from the UW in 1939, and his master's in education in 1951. Dr. Oates taught in Woodinville, eventually becoming principal at Woodinville Elementary. Later he served as principal at Monroe Junior High, and Lake Stevens Junior and Senior high schools, before becoming Lake Stevens superintendent in 1957.

As both a teacher and an administrator, the interests of students were Oates's top priority. Current Lake Stevens Superintendent David Burgess remembers Oates being held in high regard throughout the school district and the community and respected by all.

The faculty, staff and students at the UW College of Education share their sympathies with the Oates family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Stevens School District Scholarship Fund, 12309 22nd St. N.E., Lake Stevens, WA 98258, or to any charity.