For the past 18 years, Marcus has been like a second home for English teacher Mindy Sample. In addition to working with students, she watched her daughters graduate and her husband coach the football team to one of the first Battle of the Axe wins. She was there when Marcus Smart dominated the basketball court before he traded his high school jersey for a Boston Celtics uniform, and when her student Haley Orrantia moved on from her classroom to Hollywood. When English teacher Ira Sherrill had a heart attack during class, Sample was one of the first people to help.
And today, she taught her last class before going into retirement from teaching.
“There’s just so many memories that I can’t even think of all of them that have happened,” Sample said. “[There are] a lot of fun times that I’m going to miss.”
Leaving the classroom after teaching for a total of 25 years has been bittersweet for Sample. She is excited to leave the bell schedule and grading behind, but will miss seeing her students and coworkers every day.
“I have gained the best friends I’ve ever had in my life here,” Sample said. “It goes by fast. This is just a blink of an eye of what you’re about to experience in life, and yet the best times that I’ve ever had have been here at Marcus.”
Sample has plans on starting a new job, but she won’t be too far away from the school. She is going to be the spokesperson for the company of a former student.
“I’m excited to see what that’s going to be and what we’re going to do. We’re supposed to be traveling a lot,” Sample said. “So that’s going to be an exciting new adventure because it’s going to be outside of teaching, and I don’t really know what that looks like, yet. But I’m excited about that.”
As Sample transitions from education to business, she has one last lesson she wants her students and coworkers to remember.
“Love every moment and know that I believe in them. I believe that they can conquer the world and do anything they want to do in life,” Sample said. “…I’m going to miss them, but I know they’re going to be in good hands. And I’d like to say to everybody that I’ve worked with, I have enjoyed every minute of it.”
