Bessler Gets a Couple Votes of Confidence at Van Nuys

After reading about the rehiring of Dave Bessler as the girls’ volleyball coach at Van Nuys High, I felt the need to publicly respond.

When more and more after-school programs were being eliminated and shoved under the proverbial rug, Bessler took time out of his schedule and his life to teach the skills and techniques of volleyball to a gangly, inexperienced girl that ultimately turned her into a Division I full-scholarship athlete.

I never had the opportunity to have him as a math teacher, but as a coach, Bessler is aces.

JENNA PANATIER, Van Nuys

*

The article on the rehiring of Dave Bessler as girls’ volleyball coach at Van Nuys High almost hit the mark with its “jumping-ship” analogy. The truth is that only the rats have jumped ship.

The loyal coaches and faculty members who have made Van Nuys and its magnet programs one of the leading high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District are still there and have no intention of jumping ship.

Thank God for teachers and coaches like Bessler, who in addition to teaching calculus devotes countless hours to coaching.

Former Van Nuys principal Russ Thompson as well as former Van Nuys coaches Greg Wah and Kevin Kanemura have clearly demonstrated this by jumping ship. Little do they know that Van Nuys will sail on just fine without them.

RANDAL B. WALLACE, Tarzana