6 minute read
Taking Next Step
Takingthe next step
Retiring teachers say goodbye after decades
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Stories by Elise Laharia, Alex Justine, Chloe Nugent and Elle Polychronis
Jesse Cole
With a total of 35 years working in various Texas high schools, and 15 years in Highland Park, swim coach Jesse Cole is ready to retire.
After his time coaching swim at a YMCA in Alabama, Cole took his first step into teaching at Plano Senior High and then Coppell High School.
“That first year was pretty hard, getting my foot in the door and convincing people I knew what I was doing,” he said.
Cole was inspired to teach by his parents who were also teachers.
“I heard the conversations around the dinner table,” he said. “We understood what it was all about.”
Cole isn’t only focused on swimming. He is the Department Chair for Media, Information and Technology on campus and teaches several computer-based courses such as 3D Modeling and the popular course, Digital Interactive Media.
“I got lucky and got in, enjoyed it and then became department chair,” he said. “One thing led to another.”
Senior Ainsley Wiseman, one of Cole’s students in Dgital Interactive Media thinks that Cole is both patient and funny.
“Coach Cole is a teacher that doesn’t take excuses, but [that] betters the students,” she said. “He really wants to see people thrive and push themselves, especially in an artistic regard.” During C o l e ’ s time in the district, the swim team has won seven champion titles. Cole said that each time was incredibly meaningful. “I had such great kids, and they had such a great personality and really were trying to do the right things all the way down the line,” he said.
This year in particular was meaningful on its own.
“I just had a lot of fun because I knew it [was] going to be my last year.”
Dan Holden
Head tennis coach Dan Holden does not know life without tennis.
He coached privately for 16 years and then coached college tennis for 14 years.
“I just knew early [on] that coaching was the thing I enjoyed the most and the most fulfilling part for me is the development style and the relationships that you build with the kids,” Holden said. “You help them to be the best they can be. ”
For 22 years, Holden has been the head tennis coach. He trains the tennis players, schedules matches and makes traveling arrangements.
“Until I came to Highland Park, I never thought I would ever coach high school tennis, and after being here 22 years, I should have gotten here a lot sooner than I did,” he said.
However, after a year of decisionmaking, Holden has decided to retire at the end of this year. Tennis assistant coach Tylir Jimenez will take his place as the head tennis coach.
“It was a bittersweet decision,” Holden said. “I will coach some privately, a couple hours here or there each day, but I plan on enjoying my retirement.”
Sophomore Laura Wiese, who plays on the tennis team, said Holden’s biggest impact on her was his emphasis on wins and success, which helped the team overall.
“[But] he is also still very understanding if you’re not feeling that good or if you did not get enough sleep on the night before,” Wiese said. Holden looks back fondly at his time as the head tennis coach for the school. During his time, the team secured over 20 state titles.
“This has been a great 22 years,” Holden said. “I am very thankful for [Coach Randy] Allen for giving me this opportunity and hiring me because without him, I wouldn’t be here. I owe him a great debt of gratitude I will never be able to repay.”
Football coach and teacher David Clarke worked in real estate for 17 years, but decided to switch gears and start coaching professionally.
“My two kids went to school here, so they graduated here, and I graduated here, and so it was just a natural thing to be [teaching] in this community,” Clarke said.
Clarke coached and taught at the middle school and high school for a total of 19 years. After 2017, he decided to focus only on teaching. He has taught in the social studies department during his time. At the end of this year, Clarke will retire. He plans on splitting his time between his house in south Florida and his wife’s family’s lake house on Cedar Creek Lake.
“We aren’t getting any younger, and I want to be able to enjoy my retirement and do some fun things while I still can,” Clarke said. “When you get to be old like me, you cherish every day that you can get out of your bed.”
Clarke wants to leave his students as curious and inquisitive citizens, especially as future voters
“Hopefully they are learning to be people that can think for themselves and enjoy history and embrace some of [those] things,” he said.
Clarke’s U.S. history class is junior Carsyn Gray’s favorite class, not just because of his teaching skills, but because he’s been kind to her.
“He genuinely cares about people and what he’s trying to teach,” junior Carsyn Gray said. “He really wants people to learn.”
Clarke plans to spend his free time trying new hobbies and spending time with family.
“I’ve loved every minute of this and it’ll be sad to give this up and be away from the kids,” he said.
Alexandra Sharp during her first year teaching, who felt Bollman went above and beyond. Sharp is happy that Bollman gets to retire after 30 years of service “Beyond being a good colleague, she’s a friend, so I feel like my ‘safety blanket’ is leaving me,” Sharp said. “I just know that she has impacted me professionally and personally and she will be very missed by our whole team and every one of her students.”
Bollman believes this was the perfect school to end her career.
“It has truly been a joy to be here,” she said. “The students are wonderful. The parents are incredibly supportive, and I work with some of the best teachers in the state. How could you ask for anything more?”
Peggy Bollman
Art teacher Peggy Bollman is retiring after spending nine years at the high school.
“I think recent events, including COVID, just showed me and a lot of other people as well how precious life is, and I want to be at home and make art for myself,” Bollman said.
When she first started her teaching career, her goal was to help students understand the impact of art and develop the tools to make good art.
“Ms. Bollman has changed my perspective on art by showing me that there are many different kinds of art and to always push yourself to be creative,” freshman Catherine Stanzel, who currently has Bollman as a teacher, said.
Bollman mentored Art teacher
“Don’t slack off. If you are struggling, find a study group, talk to your teacher, talk to your TAs, email your teacher if you have any questions.”
Physics teacher
Jennifer Hudnall
You have all of these anxieties and expectations of what college is going “ to look like, but good, bad and ugly, it’s all going to work out. ”
Football coach
Daren Eason
Learn as much as you can in those four years, and meet as many people as “ you can in those four years. It really does fly by.”
Spanish teacher
Olivia Booth
College is only 6570% that you use when you are at your job or profession. “
The other 30% that is missing, you will acquire when you get to the job.”
Spanish teacher
Maria Schrimpf
“It’s fine to be on the lower end of a full time. I wouldn’t try to overload because you may end up just burning yourself out.
Economics teacher
Jerry Howland
“Whatever your plan is, it’s probably not going to work out, so be flexible, and enjoy every path you go down.”
