How many years have you worked at NASH?
This is my 27th year here.
So what inspired you to become a teacher in the first place?
I was going to be an engineer in high school. You don’t know what you want to do as a high school student, but one of my teachers approached me and said, “There’s money available in teaching if you want to go into math or science teachers, because there’s a shortage. There’s a scholarship. We’ll apply for it.” You know, he even wrote me the letter and all that. And I didn’t hear from it, and from anything, until, let’s say, a month before school, and I was all set to go to the Pitt School of Engineering. But then I opened the letter in the middle of summer. This is July before my freshman year. And it said, you’ve been awarded this scholarship. And so I changed my major.
What has changed since you first started teaching?
It’s a tough world. I mean, this is society, it’s changing fast. It used to be easier, you know? And now, the bigger change (because my students are all the same age) is me. I’ve aged. And so the job really hasn’t changed dramatically — I’ve changed.
What will you miss most about NASH?
I do miss the energy of young adults. They’re always into something. It’s exciting teaching teenagers. Their lives are exciting. I loved when I was a teenager. Everything’s happening all at once. You come into your personality, you come into your friends, and you don’t really change that much. That’s what’s funny. You think you do change a lot, but you really don’t. You kind of develop your personality as a teenager, and you’re stuck with it.
What was the deciding factor that made you want to retire?
When I first got to teaching, one of my mentors said to me, “I’m going to give you the advice I give all young people: save, because you’re going to wake up one morning, no matter how much you love this job, and you’re not going to want to do this anymore.” I still love my job. I’m here every day. I haven’t taken a day off in years. I still like it, and I want to leave at the top of my game. I want to leave while I still like my job, and I still have integrity. I have a decent reputation, so I’m going to retire on top.
What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you retire?
I applied to Duquesne because my son will be a senior down there. I’ve taught there for two semesters already. If they’ll have me back, I can teach often. I can teach a lot of different math subjects.
What’s one of the best memories you’ve had in NASH?
Wow. I’ve had so many, but the biggest thing that stands out is that I keep on bumping into former students 10 or 20 years later. I never think about the impact because I don’t run into these students until I see them, you know, 20 years later. It’s amazing.
What’s the most awkward situation you’ve had?
The most awkward and worst situation is how I saw the worst in my students during COVID. The dishonesty, the cheating, you know… Remember, we had to submit things online and all that business. I would have students submit work, and I remember one in particular, with a different person’s name on it. I’m like, are you kidding me?
What’s your go-to lunch at NASH?
I eat this is on a daily basis. I’ll have greek yogurt with peanut butter. I’ll have either egg salad or tuna salad or chicken salad. That makes up my sandwich, and I’ll have fresh vegetables with hummus.
If your teaching career was a movie, what would be the title?
Everybody Counts. And there’s only a mild pun there.
What was your favorite suit ever?
My number two is my gold one. But my number one — you’ve not seen it. I’m wearing my favorite suit at the Senior Banquet.
What was your favorite school event?
The musicals are definitely my favorite. The musicals are such a performance. I’m blown away every single time.
What is an unwritten rule about being a teacher?
An unwritten rule might be “show up and be ready to do something, because they pay me to be a professional and I’m going do my job.”
If there is any subject you could teach for fun, except for math, what would it be?
Physical Education.
What is one fun fact students would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m the youngest of 13. I have six older brothers and six older sisters.
