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THE STINGER JUNE 2018
Four Emmaus staff members set to retire Bibi Correa News Contributor Widely recognized for his golden sombrero and musical performances, Emmaus High School history teacher Mike Flynn is set to retire. Always having a love for history, Flynn was mostly influenced by his father. He had a way of bringing history to life, which allowed Flynn to learn a lot from him. He interviewed for the position of history teacher at Emmaus in 1984, receiving the job the following year. In 1987, he began coaching track, a passion he also inherited from both his father and his brother, running in high school and for a short period in college. Flynn feels that teaching has truly fit his personality well. His energy and enthusiasm for the subjects complements the animation of the job. Throughout his time at Emmaus, he loved every class he taught and appreciated the ability to meet an excellent staff and student body. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work,” Flynn said. “I have had the honor of working with some talented and committed teachers and administrators and I have learned a lot over the past 34 years. I will always cherish the students I’ve had in the classroom. I can’t think of a better career that allows one to
Krissy Heilenman News Editor After teaching at Emmaus High School for 30 years, math teacher Charles Sonon is ready to retire. Sonan attended Reading High School and then moved on to Lehigh University. Prior to teaching at EHS, he taught at Bethlehem Catholic, Reading High School, and was a Lehigh University Assistant Football Coach for five years. While reflecting on his career at EHS, Sonon said he will miss the people here the most. He also displays his affection for the subject of mathematics. “I like it [math]. I was good at it as a student,” Sonon said. “I realize how important it is for everyone’s future.” Reminiscing on his years here, his favorite memories involve the students. “[It’s] hearing the students say ‘Oh’ when they finally get a concept I am teaching them,” Sonon said. Fellow math teacher Todd Burkhardt has known Sonon for a long time and describes him as fun-loving, excitable, and jovial. Reflecting on their friendship, Burkhardt has two memories of Sonon that stand out to him. “For many years, he dressed up and played Santa,” Burkhardt said. “We [also] worked together building a treehouse for his son… it was an experience. It showed that not all math professionals can do construction.” Burkhardt reports that Sonon has brought many positives to the math de-
explore, create and engage with curious, young minds.” For Flynn, the best part of teaching is seeing a student find their own passion for history, even when initially the subject wasn’t their top priority. Mostly, he prides himself on his ability to connect his students to current events and the news going on in the world. “I feel history can teach us so much about ourselves and our time,” he said. “It’s rewarding when students also see the value of history and make my job that much better.” Senior Alex Comfort believes these efforts to truly engage students in the material and the world around them make him an incredible teacher, along with his overall caring personality. “He’s one of the most supportive and engaging teachers I’ve ever met,” Comfort said. “Anyone can come to him for help at any time, and he never fails to provide whatever he can for a student. The way he keeps students in his classes not only involved with the subject material but also current events is amazing.” Flynn’s passion and generosity as a teacher are well known by both his students and fellow faculty members. When considering his move to the high school, history teacher John Galla-
Charles Sonon will finish his teaching career this June. Photo courtesy of The Morning Call. partment throughout his time at EHS. “He was very good working with applied standards,” Burkhardt said. “[He] enjoyed doing that in particular. He also loved trigonometry, which he taught.” While thinking about his retirement, Sonon starts to plan ahead for what he will do in his free time. “Travel. [My wife and I want to] finish our trip on going to a game at every major league baseball park,” Sonon said. “Also visit many of our national parks and play with my grandchildren. [I want to] do more gardening and continue to coach football.” Although he is getting ready to move on, Sonon has one last word of advice for both current and future EHS students. “Keep working at it. Never give up,” Sonon said.
Izzy Wegner News Contributer After 23 years working at Emmaus High School, guidance counselor Ellen Malone will retire at the end of this year. Following her retirement, Malone will be living at her lake house in Harvey’s Lake for half of the year. She also plans to spend two and a half weeks biking around Lake Constance in Europe, which borders Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Malone went to Allentown Central Catholic High School, followed by LaSalle University where she received an athletic scholarship to play basketball and earned her degree in social work. She then went on to a counseling graduate program at Lehigh University where she became the graduate assistant to the women’s basketball head coach. She decided to go into the counseling program because she enjoyed the internships she did at LaSalle. “I always knew I was going to be in the helping profession of some sort,” Malone said. “My friends would always come to me with their problems. I had a pretty good sense of humor and I was a good listener. So it seemed like a good fit for my personality and every experience that I had worked out.” Malone then went on to work at Palmerton High School for two years and Easton Area High School for five years before finally ending up at EHS. After going to Central Catholic, Malone knew that
Mike Flynn plays the guitar, a staple of his teaching career. Photo by Emma Brashear. gher sought out Flynn in order to get his feedback and some advice. During their exchange, Flynn commented on his love for the high school and offered to help Gallagher along the way. “He is a fantastic colleague,” Gallagher said. “I know all of us in the social studies department will miss him. Because of that and also since he’s a great person.” One of Gallagher’s fondest memories with Flynn was during “Bring Your Child to Work Day,” where Flynn gushed to
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Gallagher’s children about how great of a teacher their father is. “As a parent, it’s neat to know that somebody recognizes that your children should know that what you do is important and that you at least try to do it well,” Gallagher said. “That’s the type of person he is, he wants your kids to know that you’re good at something.” While news of his retirement was shocking to many, Flynn looks at it as a new opportunity to do what he loves but also contribute to his community. He hopes to continue playing in his band and retain his love of music. “I’m leaving content that I tried to do the best I can,” Flynn said. “I love teaching here and it was a good run.” Although it is saddening to see his colleague leave, Gallagher understands Flynn’s reason for doing so. “Teaching is the best job in the world, undoubtedly,” Gallagher said. “But it is very tiring, as you are getting older you don’t have the stamina you had when you were younger. It’s time to move onto something else, and he’s doing that, and that’s wonderful. Of course, we wish him all the best and I’m sure whatever he does he’ll be great at, just like he’s great upstairs.”
Marley Wait Opinion Editor Special Education teacher Darlene Kale has been teaching at Emmaus High School for 22 years but is planning to retire at the end of this school year, which she said will be a very “bittersweet ending.” While Kale was originally a nurse, she returned to school to get her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and Elementary Education when her nursing job “transitioned to more of a management model Darlene Kale will leave the special education department at the end of the school year. and… eliminated a lot of the one-on-one patient care,” Kale “I love redoing antique furniture and said. She then got her Masters in secondthings like that, so I will actually have ary education. Using her knowledge of some time to do that,” Kale said. nursing and working with patients, Kale Despite this, she also notes that she is decided that a job in special education sad to leave the school, specifically her would be the perfect fit for her. students. “I really wanted that patient contact,” “I am gonna miss all of my colleagues Kale said. “So I decided that special ed and the students. I absolutely love being would be the best of both worlds where I here so it’s kind of a bittersweet ending, could work directly with people and use because I love my job so much. It is gomy background.” ing to be really hard,” Kale said. “ [I will Kale’s first job was at a kindergarten miss] just the contact with them… There in Allentown as a long-term substitute. is always something in them that is good. From there, she applied for a position at I just love working with them.” Emmaus High School and has been here ever since. Kale has mixed feelings about retiring. While Kale will miss EHS, she is looking forward to having more time to do activities that she otherwise would not have time to do.
EHS had an excellence for arts, athletics and most importantly, academics. She took the opportunity to work here. Continuously, Malone enjoys the diversity of her job. “For me, every day is different, it brings new challenges,” Malone said. “I’ll walk in some days and someone’s yelling at me, someone’s crying, someone’s happy, and in what other profession can you experience all that and be willing to embrace it and deal with it.” Malone enjoys the day-to-day variety she experiences. “You need that balance,” she said. “I have a list of my students and I check off when I see them and whatnot. I like having that schedule but… my administrative assistants out front are wonderful and they are able to manage if somebody is really upset and I had a meeting scheduled, they know when it’s time just to reschedule and deal with what’s happening.” Guidance counselor Jennifer Carolla admires Malone’s flexibility and thoughtfulness. “Mrs. Malone is an asset because she cares deeply for her students and she is an advocate for them,” Carolla said. “She continually pushes our counselors to do what is best for students.” In addition to Malone’s interactions with students, Carolla also appreciates her interactions with colleagues. “There is no one that makes us laugh harder or who can get away with calling each of us out like Mrs. Malone does,” Carolla said. “She has been a constant source of support and encouragement for us not only professionally, but also personally. Her authenticity, care and
concern for others, and her wisdom will be greatly missed. She is an incredibly good person and she has touched our hearts in more ways than she will ever know.” Although Malone will miss many aspects of her job, what she will miss most is her daily interactions with her colleagues. “I am going to miss the satisfacGuidance counselor Ellen Malone tion of being a part prepares to retire at the end of this of something bigger year. Photo by Emma Brashear. than myself and watching it succeed,” Malone said. “I’m going to miss being a part of the advanced placement administration… I’m going to miss rolling out Naviance to students and parents. All of these activities, and there are so many, require a great deal of coordination and effort not just by Ellen Malone, but by a lot of people together. That’s something that you don’t get when you’re at home.”