The Transition

Todd Kranpitz’s granddaughter Kate reenacts the moment from the tour. 

Photo credit: Todd Kranpitz

This month’s Education Blog Post features guest writer Todd Kranpitz. As a member of the Evansville Museum Docent Association since 2018, Todd gives his perspective on transitioning from the workforce to becoming a Museum volunteer.  

The Transition 

After 40 plus years in healthcare leadership combined with numerous years of being an adjunct faculty at local universities, I retired and was able to pursue my desire to be involved in the community and my yearning for added personal growth by becoming associated with the Evansville Museum. 

After many hours, which turned into weeks, of education, practice, and being mentored by experienced Docents, I became a Docent with the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science. I worked to rid myself of the butterflies that new experiences and challenges bring to a person. I shadowed numerous tours that provided me with confidence to give focused education to area students and adults. 

The big day finally came, and I felt I was ready to lead my first tour. Eighty students, who had come a long distance by bus, arrived in the morning before the Museum opened to the public. They were so eager to hear what we had to say. We divided the students into three groups, and another Docent and I were given the responsibility to represent the Museum to one of these groups. Our job was to educate, entertain, and provide an experience that met State educational standards for all those entrusted to us. – Oh yes - and to have fun too. 

The teachers of the students had pre-selected the areas to visit, and we were off to the first of three areas the students would experience with us two Docents.  

The first area we visited was the art area. The students were arranged in a semi-circle and focused on my every word when one of the students laid down on the floor and promptly fell sound asleep. The teacher that accompanied the group was absolutely mortified by the student’s action; she looked to me for direction. As the group moved to the next setting, the teacher asked what she wanted me to have her do. I replied, “just keep an eye on the student and when she woke up just rejoin the group, but do not wake her up”. She looked at me and asked “why?” I replied I had no idea of what the student had experienced in the last 12 hours and maybe a short nap was what she needed most. Fifteen minutes later, the student woke up and teacher and student joined the group. Everyone was pleased with the outcome.  

Part of being a Docent is to bring your experience to provide what our guests need. My volunteer experience with children has shown that a leader needs to earn a person’s attention, because it is not automatically given. Just the opposite of my previous professional life. 

During another tour (remember this was my first day) we had a classroom activity with 25 students in a room. I was addressing the group and explaining the activity and what we were going to accomplish. I could not get the group’s attention and my fellow Docent, a retired elementary teacher, went to the doorway and turned the lights off and on. Instantly I had the groups full attention. Our presentation began and the students began working to determine how to solve the Mystery at the Museum.  

After 45 minutes, while attempting to give the final instructions, I again did not have the group’s attention. The experienced Docent came to my rescue once more. She told the students to raise their hand when done and remain seated. When everyone was done, she had the students collect their papers, line up in single file, and hand the papers to me as she led them to the original starting point. I learned a lot that day about earning respect and attention. The experiences the retired teacher brought to the Docent Association and her mentorship for this newbie worked wonders. The educational process for a Docent is so much more than relaying the background information of the items on display in the Museum.  

The support given to the Docents by the Museum staff and by fellow Docents seems endless and is always at the ready. What I have learned has made me a better presenter, Docent, and grandparent. 

After I recovered from my first experience, I went on to complete numerous tours over the years. When I needed a new adventure, I began to provide presentations on-site for pre-school and Summer camp students, but that is another story. 

Many thanks to so many at the Museum.