Brandon Harle, history teacher

Q: How has the school changed?

A: There have been lots of little changes, but one of the biggest is that there are a lot more students. There were about 1,200 students in the school when I graduated, and there are at least 1,000 more now.

Q: What year did you graduate?

A: 1993.

Q: What clubs/sports did you do?

A: I was in the student government and class senate for all four years — in fact, Mr. Brent Grothe was my leadership and English teacher. I also played basketball and baseball.

Q: How have those clubs/sports changed?

A: Well, leadership has become a bigger organization — Mr. Grothe works it as his full-day job now. They also have a say in a lot more activities and they plan more events. Sports are still sports — there are still a lot of people involved and it’s just as competitive, if only a little more scrutinizing about possible injuries so that athletes don’t get permanently wounded.

Q: What is it like being a staff member here versus being a student?

A: It was kind of strange coming back at first because it felt like I was still a student but just a little older. Later, I got used to the different perspective as many of the older teachers that I had retired, and it didn’t feel as familiar anymore. Now I feel like I have finally changed places with the teachers, and the students here now have the perspective that I once had.

Q: What do you miss from when you were in high school?

A: No matter your current situation in life — and you think that it is hard now. The simplicity of a high schooler’s life is what I miss the most, where the hardest thing that you had to do was homework. I understand that some cases are more complex, but life is generally about passing school and spending time with friends, and not about having a job or being bombarded with finances.

Q: Were there any senior pranks?

A: There were no senior pranks in my year. I mean, there was always that couple of guys that did a few things that got them in trouble. One guy in my class saved all his garbage from all his four years in high school in his locker and burned it the day before graduation. He got in quite a bit of trouble. But there was no big group pranks.

Nigel Hunter, history teacher

Q: How has the school changed?

A: The largest change would be the administration and the teachers. They drive most of the culture and atmosphere of the school.

Q: What year did you graduate?

A: 1997.

Q: What clubs/sports did you play?

A: I played soccer and football, and that was about it.

Q: How have those clubs/sports changed?

A: Football has gotten a lot more success since I was there. Credit for that goes to Coach Scott Devereaux, as he has made the sport much more respected. I can say that about Coach Tronson and the soccer team, too. There are a lot more serious soccer players as well.

Q: What do you miss from when you were in high school?

A: I would of liked to explore other options, but I was so focused on graduating high school and getting to college that I failed to explore all the options after high school.

Q: How was the discipline different?

A: Oh gosh, I don’t think it was. Kids do what they did before and so do the staff.

Q: Were there any senior pranks?

A: Gosh, I don’t know. If there were … I wasn’t involved in it.

Q: What were some school traditions that you used to do?

A: Instead of riding down to the Apple Bowl on scooters, we used to do a library run from the top of the resource center to the library entrance, where we would just run through the library. Also, do they still sell elevator passes? We used to do that too.

Carrie Christensen, German teacher

Q: How has the school changed?

A: “Well obviously there are more kids. Also the demographics are much different. There weren’t as many Latinos as there are now.”

Q: What year did you graduate?

A: “1995.”

Q: What clubs or sports were you involved in?

A: “I was involved in all the musicals and plays in the spring. I was involved in choir and Honor Society.”

Q: What is it like now being a teacher versus a student?

A: “It’s good and not as weird as I thought going into it because some of the teachers I had back then are still working here.”

Q: How have the clubs or sports changed?

A: “There are more diverse clubs. The biggest difference is the level of student support for those clubs and sports has really diminished.”

Q: What do you miss most about high school?

A: “I miss my friends and all the people. I miss being a kid.”

Q: How is discipline different?

A: “I was never really in classes where students got in trouble.”

Q: Did your class have a senior prank?

A: “Yeah, but it obviously wasn’t that memorable.”

Q: What were some school traditions?

A: “The seniors used to camp out front on the night before graduation and in the morning we had a breakfast over at Pioneer Park. Another thing that we used to do was that after every home game we would have an informal dance and almost everyone would go. It was the thing to do on Friday nights.”

Michelle Smith, English teacher

Q: How has the school changed?

A: “Well the biggest difference is of course that size.”

Q: What year did you graduate?

A: “1985.”

Q: What clubs or sports were you involved in?

A: “I was involved in drama club and choir. I didn’t do any sports at the high school but I danced outside of school.”

Q: What is it like now being a teacher versus a student?

A: “I feel so much more responsibility whereas being a student it was all about me and now it’s about my students.”

Q: How have the clubs or sports changed?

A: “I think that there are more of them and so many students are involved in them.”

Q: What do you miss most about high school?

A: “I miss being a student and learning something new every day.”

Q; How is discipline different?

A: “It seems that now we have a lot of students who aren’t mature enough to be here.”

Q: Did your class have a senior prank?

A: “I don’t remember.”

Q: What were some school traditions?

A: “Back in high school and Friday night dances were the BIG deal and no one seems to do that anymore.”

David Ray Jagla, history teacher

Q: When did you graduate?

A: 1988.

Q: How has the school changed?

A: In my eyes the biggest change has been technology in the classroom and the access to it that students have from their phones.

Q: What is it like being a teacher versus a student?

A: The teacher versus student mentality isn’t totally what I concern myself with. I try to teach how my teachers I enjoyed in high school taught me. [I] try to be fair, respect one and another, stay current. The only difference is you have a lot of responsibilities as a teacher.

Q: What clubs or sports did you participate in?

A: Football, wrestling, baseball, track… That was year round.

Q: How have those clubs and sports changed?

A: I guess I could go back to technology once again; the way we prepare for our opponents using film. The access to the film and how to exchange it to study our opponents and implement it into the practice arena. [Technology] has made us more prepared for our opponents.

Q: Have school traditions changed?

A: Haven’t changed, really. Sometimes I feel like I never left the school, the traditions are the same.

Q: How has discipline changed?

A: I think it’s all the same. You still have your certain percentage that gets in trouble and breaks the rules and you have your same percentage that follows the rules and excel in school and try to do what is right.

Q: Did you participate in senior pranks?

A: I didn’t. It wasn’t a big thing as far as I can remember. We did have a couple lone wolves that tried to do stuff but there was no pranks that were organized.

The reason why I became a teacher is probably from my experiences as a high school student here. It’s a great atmosphere, great vibe, good energy and I enjoyed that experience and I’m fortunate to be in it.

Jacob St. John, English teacher

Q: When did you graduate?

A: 1995.

Q: How has the school changed?

A: I’m not sure, I think kids are kids. I’ve probably changed more than the school has changed, because the context is totally different so it’s definitely hard for me to answer that question objectively. But I think that we probably do. I know I had really great teachers here when I went to school, but I think education has changed a lot since the ‘90s and so I think we may approach things a little differently. Our standards have changed multiple times since I’ve been a teacher, but you hear oldtimers talk about how things are always changing.

I think that the student body is more accepting of differences. When I was in school the student body was probably pretty homophobic and divided along racial barriers. I remember lots of fights between cowboys and Mexicans. It seemed like the cowboys were just the biggest thugs in the world and they fought with everybody. There was a group of skinheads that went here at the same time and they were total bullies when I went to school there were more fights and more violence and I don’t see it as much. So I think we’re probably as a student body more tolerant of our differences and more accepting and that is really cool I’m really excited about how the ASB and other student groups reach out to kids that have in the past been kind of ignored and so I think were more compassionate community and that’s really exciting. If there’s one difference it’s that.

Q: What clubs or sports did you participate in?

A: I did Golden Apple Band and I did Chamber Choir.

Q: How have those clubs and sports changed?

A: Sarge Huber was the director of the Golden Apple Band, Dan Jackson was the director of the Chamber Choir and I think our music program has maintained its superior strength and it’s just still awesome. Every time I see the music kids perform I’m blown away at the amount of talent we have here.

Q: Have school traditions changed?

A: There [were] a lot of kids in bands, like garage bands, so we were always putting on shows and I don’t see a lot of kids doing that anymore. I know we have the Cocoa Cafe and those nights in the commons area where kids will get up and do jazz or recite poetry and stuff. But we had a lot of punk rock and garage bands that did shows and that’s not something I see happening very much.