Five Boone teachers with five different stories have either retired or are set to retire this May after nearly 150 years of time spent combined school.
Jon Smith retired after winter break, Andrea Reeves retired in late February, and Christy Mollozzi, David Kohl and Pam Hirn will be retiring together in May.
Andrea Reeves spent her entire career of 27 years here as a U.S History, and Psychology teacher. Christy Mollozzi spent 28 years as a U.S History collaborative teacher.
David Kohl has 31 years under his belt as an English, Yearbook, and Public Speaking teacher. Pam Hirn has a total of 32 years in her repertoire. She taught business for nine years and spent the rest of her time as a college and career Coach.
With all of the time they have spent at Boone, these teachers have a lot to reminisce on, especially all of the changes that have occurred each year. One of the biggest they identified was the development of technology since they started in the 1990s.
“Technology has changed the most,” Mollozzi said. “You had hard copies of everything and manual gradebooks, not Infinite Campus.”
When Hirn started, there were no Chromebooks.
Kohl also said he related to the development of technology, but a different big change from when he started was the schedule. There were six periods a day and students had the same classes and teachers all year.
In addition to this, he feels a difference in the loyalty to the school.
“When I started, students were very invested in school spirit, doing sports and clubs, but now they’re just detached,” Kohl said.
The teachers all taught different subject areas, which contributed to the memories they made at Boone.
Mollozzi said her favorite memory is when one of her students who was “physically challenged” made a shot from half court at a pep rally.
Hirn’s favorite memories were working in the business department, getting to go to Gateway to watch her students get degrees, and speaking at parent nights.
Reeves appreciated the simple day-to-day interactions with her students the most.
Kohl enjoys reminiscing on delivering the 2017 graduation speech on what it takes to be a Rebel. Kohl graduated from Boone in 1987 and said he has always considered himself a Rebel.
What was his advice?
“Rebel against negativity, and exceed expectations, and always stay positive,” Kohl said.
While they all have their own perspective on what they will miss the most about working at Boone, they all say one thing in common: they will miss the people.
Reeves has already experienced this in the short time that she’s been retired. She says she misses her students a lot and her fellow math and social studies hallway teachers she came to know really well.
Mollozzi said she will miss the people, the students and her routine. Kohl says he will miss the relationship with his yearbook staff, and Hirn said she will miss the people and the students she got to know really well during her career.
Each of the teachers have different plans for retirement.
Mollozzi plans to work in her church, help with her grandkids, and travel a little, while Kohl plans to do a little photography.
Hirn plans to work in her bakery, and she accepted a position as a college admission counselor at The Christ College of Nursing in Cincinnati.
Reeves wants to be available for her four grandkids. She has been shopping, traveling, pleasure reading.
Through their time spent at Boone, they have gained wisdom that they want to impart to the current student body relating to the possibilities students have.
Mollozzi is a faculty advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“As I leave Boone, I want the students to know that God loves them and has a purpose for their life,” Mollozzi said.
Kohl, who spends his time capturing memories to put in the yearbook, wants students to live in the moment.
“As I leave Boone, I want all the students to know all the opportunities they have… to make valuable memories,” Kohl said.
Hirn, who focuses on helping students find their paths, encourages students to take charge in those endeavors themselves.
“To the incoming freshmen: take advantage of all the opportunities Boone has to join clubs. To the leaving seniors: give a lot of thought to your career,” Hirn said.
Reeves, who graduated from Boone and came back to build her career as a teacher, wants students to remember what it means to be a student at Boone.
“I hope that all of the students will remember the unique opportunities and the relationships they had at Boone and will always consider themselves Rebels,” Reeves said.
