NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL
211 PYLESVILLE ROAD, PYLESVILLE MD 21132
410-638-3650
May
2021
Dougherty moves from teaching to retirement HANNAH KRIZEK Op/Ed Editor After 6 years of teaching at Southampton Middle School, 5 years at North Harford Middle School, and 19 years at North Harford High School, for a total of 30 years in the teaching environment, Dougherty is finding retirement at the end of this school year. From other teachers he has worked with throughout the years of his teaching career, and the students he has taught, all when asked about him have nothing but good to say. Dougherty taught a series of classes throughout his career including biology, earth science, and astronomy. This year he taught anatomy, marine science, and environmental systems. Retiring is all part of life but for Dougherty, the “long realization that 30 years would be enough,” is what really struck him to act with retirement. He has had “two long careers,” and simply, “looks forward to enjoying life a bit more.” After retirement, Dougherty has very simple plans for him. He explains that he does not plan on working anymore but plans on, “traveling, reading, and playing a great deal of tennis.”
The educator added he has an immense number of feelings that
go along with retirement. “I do feel an immense sense of relief
Dougherty is a biology, earth science, astronomy, marine science, and an envrionmental science teacher. He is leaving North Harford after 30 years in the teaching community. Photo credit: Kylie Redding
mostly because of how difficult teaching has been during this pandemic.” The recent pandemic has caused a lot of stress on most, making retirement, even more, something to look forward to. Dougherty himself is a North Harford alumnus, along with his two sons, so, “working within the community that [he] grew in and raised [a] family in has been very rewarding,” he discusses. Considering the period of time he spent as part of the Hawk family, he adds that a million and one memories were made. When talking and thinking about these memories, he discusses his students saying, “I will remember the relationships and connections I have made with my students.” Along with that he says, “I will remember my teaching colleagues and many great times that we had here. Throughout his years he has made many relationships with teachers in the building. Mr. Green is another science teacher that has worked beside him for 19 years. This means, “19 years of lunchtime fun, 19 years of field trips to the zoo, the aquarium, and a couple to New York City, ‘’ says Mr. Brady Green.
Mrs. Patty Massetti, another teacher who has spent an abundant number of years teaching with Dougherty, leaving memories to be shared, and things to be remembered. She has taught with him for 16 years and says her favorite memory that she shared with him over the years were, “the lunchtime laughs over the years and his remarkable ability to predict weather forecasts and school closures.” Students of his continue to say only positive remarks about him. Senior Julianna Spangler says, “One thing I’d like to tell him is thank you for being an awesome teacher and having a positive impact on students.” Sophomore Arron Huth also discusses that his favorite memory was the aquarium trip that was for marine science, and he says that one thing he would want to say to Mr. Doughtery is, “I wish we had a full year of school for your last year, you were one of my favorite teachers.” As Dougherty looks forward to a different look at his life, he specifically says, “I hope that I have been able to spark an interest in many things that have helped people have a better life.”
Custodian depar ts The Nest after long career;
Moving from North Harford to Florida GRACE FELDBUSH News editor Ms. Wilma Evans, one of North Harford High School’s longest serving custodians, is leaving as she retires after working at The Nest for the last 42 years. Evans remarked that a lot of the kids and faculty members are now good friends of mine, and I will miss them dearly.” “I will always miss putting on shows, dressing up, making craft books, and going to football and baseball games with other workers because we have made so many good memories doing those things,” Evans states. “We used to put on shows, we would get in costume and do scenes and entertain the school which was one of my favorite things about being here,” Evans states. Evans commented that “When this job became available I took it, before I took it I was a substitute at North Harford Middle and High School,
and I never knew I would be here for so long,” Evans says. “Being around all the peo-
ple and the kids day after day is what made me love my job,” Evans says. She hopes every-
Evans will be retiring after 42 years at North Harford. She will continue her life in Florida. Photo credit: Grace Feldbush
one treats the school well when she leaves and has a happy life while she is down in Florida. “Her heart really did beat for this school as corny as it sounds,” Ms. Robin Anderson, one of Evan’s co-workers states. Anderson hopes she can continue to feel as passionate about life as Evans did in this building and with the people here in the future. “She really is just such a silly person. I will always remember the time she kept calling a futon, a crouton.” Anderson says. “Ms. Wilma would go all out for spirit days, and I am going to miss seeing her dress up days during spirit week,” secretary Mrs. Kimberly Iddings states. Iddings wishes that Evans will get to spend lots of time with her family in Florida after retirement and to get the relaxation she deserves. “She always knew how to make me laugh, and I will miss her presence in this building,” Iddings says. “Her generosity and kindness
to the people in the community are what I remember her by,” drama teacher Mrs. Nancy Green says. Green hopes Evans will have time to spend with her great nephews and nieces in the future, Green explains that Evans was always so helpful during the drama performances. “No matter where you look, Ms. Wilma is there with a cheerful attitude all of the time,” Mrs. Lori Rake, Spanish teacher, says. She explains she loved seeing Evans’ dedication during spirit week. “Without Mrs. Wilma in the building there will definitely be an empty feeling for many who were close with her,” Rake states. “My favorite memory of Ms. Wilma is when I walked in on her and Ms. Robin playing with the drums in the band room,” Mrs. Jeanne Grimmel states. Grimmel says she is going to miss seeing her kind face day after day and she wishes her nothing but happiness just as what shebrought to North Harford herself.