Two hundred and thirty-six days until Lori Hergott completes her final year of teaching for HHS, which is so close yet so far away.
Mrs. Hergott has worked at HHS for a total of eight years. She is currently progressing
through her last year of English and other types of writing with students.
“This is my eighth year teaching here, in some ways I’ll miss it but I’m excited to have time to do plenty of things to keep me occupied,” Hergott said.
HHS has given Hergott the opportunity to connect and teach all different types of students and teachers throughout the years. She has seen both students graduate, and new students come to the school every year.
“This school has probably taught me patience, and the ability to accept all kinds of people,” Hergott said.
With eight years of teaching every day coming to an end, it will be a change to accept for Hergott.
“It won’t be that hard, there’s definitely pieces and parts I will miss but I’m ready to be done teaching. It’s been nice here but I’m ready,” Hergott said.
Hergott feels much the same way as she did when she started just eight years ago.
“I’m very excited just like I was when I started, I remember being so naive and excited when I was first coming here,” Hergott said. “I didn’t know what to expect because college just can’t prepare you, I thought I could just walk into this and breathe through it but it was not that easy.”
Hergott has learned a great deal about teaching throughout the years and is able to give out advice for new or younger teachers.
“My advice for younger and new teachers is probably, there is only so much you can do to get people enthused about their education,” Hergott said.
Hergott has made plans and has been waiting to be able to continue hobbies she is passionate about.
“I have a really big garden at home and it’s been really hard for me to do all my canning because of teaching. I’m excited to have my huge garden again and to have more food,” Hergott said. “Growing more food to give away is also something I enjoy and doing more craft projects I’ve been wanting to start. I’ve missed all of it.”
Tiana Arroyo, both a current and former student taught by Hergott, spends a class period every other day with her.
“I had her as my junior year English teacher and currently for my creative writing class. She’s taught me a lot,” Arroyo said.
After having her as a teacher for an entire year and one more semester, Arroyo has gained a friendship like no other with her.
“Mrs. Hergott is very understanding and really cares, she makes sure all the things she’s teaching is understood and she’s taught me to be patient and understanding also,” Arroyo said. “I feel like you can’t really upset her, she’s very kind.”
Arroyo just learned about Hergott’s retirement, and wishes differently.
“It’s really sad, I’ll miss her because she always greets me when I walk past her and always asks me how I’m doing. I’ll miss that,” Arroyo said.
Hergott leaving is something many students and teachers couldn’t imagine happening.
“I don’t think another English teacher could replace her. I love her way of teaching, like she always gives us so much time to understand everything and doesn’t push. I’ll miss her,” Arroyo said.
