Fab Four

AFTER 11 YEARS at the Upper School and 18 at the Middle School (spanning roughly 700 Upper School and 1,200 Middle School students, he points out), science teacher Matt Huston is saying goodbye to micro-museums and Smith Rocks outdoor trips — and looking forward to creating a new lesson plan for the many opportunities that await him in what he’s calling “recyclement.” In a personal note to colleagues, he wrote, “I got married the year before I started teaching here. My two ‘babies’ were born, and sometimes when they were wee and too sick for school, they spent the day in my office watching movies and eating Kozy Shack chocolate pudding from the lunchroom. I turned 40 and 50 and 60. Both of my parents passed away. I lost most of my hair and my beard turned gray. I will miss working with all of you amazing people.”

Over 28 years, the positive energy and friendly spirit of Clayton Christy enlivened Lakeside’s kitchen and then its maintenance department. In time, his skill with a camera and talent for shooting Lakeside athletics events became a hobby, then a sideline, and then a part of his work for the school. He plans to slow down, relax — and stay active shooting photography as he “enters the land of endless Saturdays.”

Spanish teacher and inveterate outdoor and Global Service Learning trip leader Debby Heath retired in June. “The time is right for me to move on to more fun, travel, and adventures,” she said. “Our daughters are launched, my husband retired last year, my advisees are graduating, and Spain/South America is calling!”

Near the start of winter term, Harold Johanson invited colleagues to jump into their time machines and point them to the crest of 10th Avenue East on Capitol Hill, back to September 1974. “You might just run into me there,” he wrote. “I was a fairly recent college grad then about to enter the front door of Lakeside Middle School (formerly St. Nicholas School), ready — or not — to take over the music program. At that point, I could have never imagined, all these years and some major professional makeovers later, I’d still be a part of this amazing community.” His long run ended in June, following stints as drama director, computer science teacher, technology specialist, and, most recently, Upper School library media and technology integration specialist. He will be remembered by many for bringing musicals to the Middle School stage.