Mark Sperry retires after nearly three decades of teaching.
photo by Rebecca Holt
After being a teacher for over 28 years, Mark Sperry will be retiring at the end of this first semester, just before his beloved class of 2010 graduates.
After having taught almost seven years at Montbello High School, Sperry found himself being transferred to TJ in 1992. “I got lucky to be able to get a job here, because I really like the school,” said Sperry. “One of the things I will miss the most about teaching is the students. That is the real reason why a person teaches, because they enjoy being around kids,” he added. Sperry has enjoyed his time at TJ, and is glad to have spent the past 18 years here.
“I began teaching because I really like kids and I enjoyed the summer vacation. Growing up I loved to travel, and this job allowed me to do so,” said Sperry.
“I had a rocky start. Teaching was rough at first, but after the first few years I began to get better at teaching,” said Sperry. During his first years of teaching for Montebello he taught “Hold Youth” classes, which were aimed at student dropouts or students close to dropping out. Continuing to teach math classes, Sperry now instructs seniors in probability and statistics, and underclassmen algebra and geometry.
“Teaching gives you great skills in dealing with people. I remember someone at CU, who once said to me that teaching is not hard, but it is one of the most honorable professions. It should probably be ranked somewhere next to doctors and other similar careers,” said Sperry. After almost 29 years of teaching he feels that he has the sufficient skills to go back to school and certify himself in other areas.
After retiring, Sperry plans to expand his knowledge in business and computer science. “Once I retire I plan to get a second career, take computer classes, Oracle Data Base courses, accounting and finance classes. These are the things I have always enjoyed. I want a good second career in business,” he said. Sperry hopes to one day be working with a finance company.
“People who stick with teaching should be proud. Some of the smartest people are teachers; take Mr. Jackson, Mr. Vore, Ms. Witulski and Mrs. Doyle, they are all people who could do anything but they chose to teach. These are the people with the courage to teach, and they decided to do so,” said Sperry.
His years of teaching have been a learning experience for him, as well. Sperry has learned to interact with the students and adjust to their ways of learning, something he suggests all beginning teachers to learn to do. “All I want is new teachers to know what they are getting into. Before they decide to teach they should intern first, that way they can see what they are getting into,” said Sperry. “Teaching is like getting into the circus because you have to perform in front of other people every single day,” added Sperry, comparing a teacher’s lectures and lessons to a professional performer’s.
“Some of the students I remember the most are Ben Sprague, Eric Thompson, Malcolm Glenn, Zach Cohn, and the Mancoff twins,” said Sperry. “My favorite events at TJ were always the graduations. Those are always great events to go to; they always make the best memories,” he said.
“I want my students to remember that I treated them equally and fairly; I let them have a second chance in their work if they were absent, and helped them all catch up with their work,” said Sperry. As advice for the students he will be leaving behind, Sperry encourages all his students to follow their dreams. “Everyone should absolutely go with their passion; someday you will make money from it,” he said.
Many of the students are sad to see Sperry retire so suddenly, but he is doing it for his own well-being, as well as for his family’s. “Once you have kids you don’t have the same time you used to. I want to be with them,” said Sperry, who has a six-year-old boy and a ten-year-old boy, both of whom he wishes he had more time to be with. “I’m tired and I need the time to be with my family; this just seems like a good time to retire,” said Sperry.
