Once graduating high school, some students are ready to never reappear. However, some students decide to return and give back to their community by becoming a teacher.
The same narrative takes place at Hastings High.Some believe that Hastings is a boring small town, which raises the question: why come back to Hastings?
“I think what brought me back was the Hastings community. I’ve always just been happy with it,” English teacher and HHS class of 1986 Greg Mays said.
Teachers at Hastings not only teach, but also play a role in the community that engages the youth of the community.
“When I was growing up and was in high school, all of the people I admired the most were my teachers. I think it is natural that you would want to emulate that and you know, they were good role models for me,” history teacher and HHS class of 1986 Ann Mays said.
It is common to find a teacher at HHS that is a Tiger alum. All of these returning teachers, have said they returned because of their past teachers; they wanted to fill their roles or teach at their side.
“I would have to give a long list of teachers who made me look forward to working here. When I was out of college, I didn’t apply anywhere but here. If I didn’t get the job, then I would’ve went back to school,” history teacher and HHS class of 1980 Robert Kerr said.
HHS has great teachers for this reason. Teachers are incredible role models in Hastings, which motivates students to come back.
Some students can’t wait to get out of Hastings and into college, but the teachers that have returned to HHS have few reasons to be unhappy with their homecomings.
“I regret lots of things but not where I live,” Gregory Mays said.
