Where do I begin? Colerain High School had its ups and downs as a student, but there was usually one thing I could always count on to brighten my day: The Teachers. There are many teachers who helped push me to be the person that I am today – and even more that I never had the chance to learn from – but today I would like to give a shout out to the ones who cared when I did not.
These teachers were my common sense, my strength, and my will to push myself to the very best when I had all but clocked out for the day, something we as high school students tend to do all too often.
1. Tammy Bundy
Words cannot describe the level of awesome this wonderful teacher, writer, and daily motivator possesses. As my English teacher throughout much of high school, Mrs. Bundy constantly found ways to make writing fun and engaging. Grammar had become but another tool by which we could creatively express ourselves, and the opportunities to do just that were abundant.
What I enjoyed most about Mrs. Bundy's English classes were the opportunities to take 10 minutes of valuable class time and delve into the world of whatever reading content we had brought along to class that day – although she had a bookshelf as an effective backup plan. Mrs. Bundy valued creative reading and writing as an essential step of the learning process, and that is one thing I will always be grateful for. We have remained professional acquaintances and – dare I say – friends ever since I graduated from CHS back in 2012. I occasionally share my writing with her and appreciate the feedback that she has to offer. Hopefully one day I can do the same for her!
If you want to support this fantastic teacher, you can even pre-purchase her latest work of fiction by clicking "this link!"
2. Kerry Dugan-Martini
If you would allow me, I might argue that Mrs. Dugan is the soul of Colerain High School. While also an English teacher, I had never actually taken English with her myself, but I did have Mrs. Dugan for two classes: Minority Perspectives and Creative Writing.
Few words can adequately describe the joy of learning from this teacher. Even those who never took a class with her knew who she was and how her voice echoed through the hallways long after she spoke. She was the teacher who laughed, cried, and understood what you were going through. She was relentlessly forgiving of your wrongdoings, even if you made a habit of testing her limits, and many students did.
Mrs. Dugan was the teacher who cared about who you were and where you were going, and sometimes that is what matters the most to a student who may feel lost in a time where finding yourself is priority one.
3. Dr. Bob Hoover
The provided picture is the latest known image associated with Dr. Bob Hoover, as he predates modern digital image capturing devices.
Some of my classmates are reading this name on my list and wondering what in the heck this guy is doing in their annual dose of nostalgia, but Dr. Hoover (and don't you forget that title because he will correct you) has earned his place on this list as one of my favorite and most treasured teachers.
Originally my freshman adviser before the school decided to mix us up and shuffle our small, morning family of ten around, Dr. Hoover was the first face I became familiar with at Colerain High School. In addition to having him for morning advisory, I had multiple History classes with him throughout high school. This teacher was famous for being behind the times, always sporting his old school projector and cracking as many jokes as our youthful minds could handle. While his voice was notoriously monotone, he asked the questions that we were scared to. He didn't push his beliefs or values, but instead left us with an ominous and sometimes abstract question to ponder at the beginning and end of class.
Dr. Hoover made it clear many times over in every class I took with him that educating the youth of a country is the only way to enact real, meaningful change the status quo. He gave us this gift by investing in our imaginations and teaching us through the mistakes of this country's (and others') past.
4. & 5. Mr. and Mrs. Parks
These two taught the choir classes at CHS and worked alongside English teacher and Theatre extraordinaire Michael Sherman to put together school musicals. Outside of school hours, however, they ran and directed two large groups of student performers by giving them a stage to showcase their talent and individuality.
During my freshman year, I had the honor of working with these two as a Colerain High School "Show Card." In only a year I had traveled to places I had never been before, places I may very well never see again, and performed in front of vast crowds of hundreds – sometimes a thousand! – people. It was unlike anything I had ever imagined, and none of it would have been possible had Mr. and Mrs. Parks not believed in my potential.
One of my biggest regrets is that I did not stay with the Show Cards, but I had lost a friend and my heart just wasn't in it anymore. Despite the circumstances regarding my departure, they continued to have faith in me and treated me with kindness during my remaining years at CHS. Having these two as choir teachers was a gift that only CHS graduates will ever fully be able to appreciate.
As I stated earlier, there are many teachers who didn't make this list simply because I did have the opportunity of being in their classes, but also because this article would never end. If you had a teacher from Colerain High School you would like to honor, please feel free to do so in the comments below!
Pay your respects to the teacher(s) who cared about you!
