Teaching legacy spansgenerations

By KATRINA J.E. MILTON |kmilton@shawmedia.com

FFor someone who initially wasn’t sure whetherteaching would be his path in life, Sycamore’s Joe Jordan didn’t do too bad. Neither did his kids, it seems.

Joe Jordan, 65, retired in June 2012 from SycamoreHighSchool afterteaching driver’s education and coaching for 29 years. Less than adecade later, in October 2021, they named avarsity soccer field after him: “Joe Jordan Field.”

See ALL IN THE FAMILY, page 17

Joe Jordan (middle), 65, retiredfromSycamoreHighSchoolafter teachingdriver’s educationand coaching for29years. His daughter, Lisa Hoffhines, 36,isafirst-grade teacheratNorth GroveElementarySchoolinSycamore, andhis son, AndyJordan, 34,teachessocialstudies at SycamoreHighSchool.

•ALL IN THE FAMILY

From page 16

“I was the only teacherinmyfamily,” Joe Jordan said. “I went into education when Istarted college, and I never regretted it. Ialways enjoyed working with young people. Ialso lovedbeing acoach. Iplayed sports when Iwas in school, so Iloved being a coach as an adult.”

His children, Lisa Hoffhines and Andy Jordan, both seemed to have inherited the teaching bug.

His daughter, Lisa, 36, is afirst grade teacher at North Grove Elementary School in Sycamore. His son, Andy, 34, teachessocial studies at Sycamore High School.

Joe Jordan graduated from DeKalb High School in 1974 and had baseball scholarships to study at Kishwaukee College andNorthern Illinois University. When he was starting out, Joe Jordan said, he didn’t knowwhat he wanted to do, but he liked sports and decided to study physical education.

He began his educator career at Paw Paw High School in 1979, teaching health and driver’seducation. That wasn’t his only passion, though.

Joe alsofound acalling in team sports, coaching boys and girls basketball and soccer.Hestarted the boys soccer program at Sycamore High

School in 1983 and was the team’s first coach. He later started the girls soccer program in 1991.

“The older Iget, the more Irealize how being ateacher made me a better person. As hard as being a teacher is, it’s very fulfilling. I’m happy to see my children find their own fulfilling careers in education, too.”

When Joe began workinginSycamore schools, he moved to the city with hiswifeof37years, Jane, andraised their children, Lisa and Andy. Not to be outdonebyher educator family, Jane worked at Northern Illinois Universityasafinancial adviser before retiring.

Lisa Jordan said thatgrowing up with adad who is ateacher and acoach was like growing up in the high school. Sheattended her first Sycamore High Schoolbasketball game when she was 2 weeks old.

“Some of my fondest memories growing up are of the time we spent traveling on the bus to away games,” Lisa said.

Likeher father, Lisa didn’t always know that acareer in education was for her. It was only during her father’s retirement party that she began to seriously think about teaching, she said.

“At his retirement party, Isaw all of the teachers, staff, faculty, administration, and Isaw the camaraderiethey had,” Lisa said. “I saw that they were friends, they formed acommunity. That’s when Irealized that that’s what Iwanted. That’s where Iwantedtobe. I spent my entire life in and around schools, and Iknewitwas time to start my professional career as ateacher.”

Her brother, Andy Jordan, saidhe was also unsure initially about teaching. During his first year at NIU, he was undecidedabout hismajor. His sophomore year, he decided to settle on history.

“My dad asked me what Iwas going to do with adegree in history, and Itold him that Iwantedtoteach,” Andy said. “I knew he never regretted going into teaching one day of his life. He always said, ‘You’ll neverget rich, but you’ll never be poor.’ It’s also ameaningful line of work. So Idecided to become a teacher.”

It’s asentiment Joetookwithhis career, saying what he loved most was his relationships with students. His children feel the same way.

“My studentsand their families are almost like my own family,” Lisa said. “I see them grow and learn throughout the year. They come into first grade as kindergartners and leave as second graders. It’s incredibly rewarding. As a teacher, you’re able to make ahugedifferenceand impact in your students’ lives.”

Like his father, Andy also has become acoach. He used to coach football and he helped start ahistory club at the high school. Andy and his father co-coached freshman boys basketball.

“I was22and Iwas theheadcoach, and my dad, who had been coaching 30-plus years was my assistant coach,” Andysaid. “I was amazed at what a greatcoach he was. He was easygoing yet firm, and very passionateabout coaching. He told me it’s allabout teaching students how to play and be a team player, it’s not about wins and losses.”

At the end of the day, Joe is aproud dad.

“The older Iget, the more Irealize how being ateacher made me abetter person,” Joe Jordan said. “As hard as being ateacher is, it’s very fulfilling. I’mhappy to see my children find their own fulfilling careersineducation, too.”