Parkway South High has been around for quite some time. Forty-seven years to be exact. This means that there are teachers here now, who have graduated from South themselves.
English teacher Anton Ruiz, who graduated from South High in 2015, said that coming back to teach at South was always something he wanted to do.
“Coming back here was my dream job. I really didn’t want to be anywhere else. I fell in love with teaching because I had awesome teachers. My junior year of high school, when I was a sixth grade camp counselor, I just knew that I wanted to be a teacher and I knew I wanted to serve the school that served me,” said Ruiz.
He also added that many of his high school teachers got him to where he is today.
“I had Miss Erehart and I had Coach Roach. They were two impactful people in my life, and I would not be a teacher without them,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz isn’t the only graduate who wanted to come back. Spanish teacher Julie Barnes, who graduated in 2003, says that when she was looking for a teaching position, she made it a goal to work at South.
“When I decided to become a teacher, I pictured myself here. This was the first school that I had stayed at for a long period of time. I moved around a lot as a kid, so this felt like a home to me. It felt like somewhere I was comfortable and somewhere I was appreciated,” Barnes said.
Even though these teachers graduated years ago, not many changes have been made to the school since they went here.
History teacher Ryan McArthy, who graduated in 2012, says he thinks the school looks pretty similar.
“There haven’t been too many changes throughout the building, overall. I know the bathrooms by the cafeteria are different. You know the paintings, there’s more paintings throughout the halls which I think is cool,” McArthy said.
In contrast to that, Math teacher Susan Herrmann, who graduated in 1995, described one of the main changes that she’s noticed since she went here in the nineties.
“There was carpet on everything in here, like in the Commons. And that didn’t get removed until about I would say 10-15 years ago,” Herrmann said.
South has had many great memories made over the years.
“My favorite memory was meeting my best friend,” Barnes said.
Ruiz agreed that his friends are what made high school so memorable for him, and many students at South today will probably think of the same thing as they move on in life.
“My favorite memory was graduating with my closest friends. I’ve known them since I was eight years old and they’re still some of my best friends today. So, I think just going through this awesome four-year journey with people that I was close with,” Ruiz said.
McArthy said that he really loved the Senior Walkout, a recent South tradition.
“You always remember your last day as a senior, you know, running through the halls and celebrating with your class and kind of enjoying those moments together,” McArthy said.
Having experienced South High as a student might change the way these teachers teach here. Ruiz thinks so at least.
“I’ve walked these hallways as a teenager. I know what it’s like. So I’ve stepped back. I’ve literally been in the shoes of my students. And that helps me understand,” Ruiz said.
Coming back here probably felt quite strange for the teachers, as well. Barnes thought it was.
“Not now. That first year? Definitely. But now, no. This is my home,” Barnes said.
Overall, South has a great community and staff. While these teachers are playing a different role now than when they went here, their Patriot pride is one thing that has not changed over the years.
“GO SOUTH!” Ruiz exclaimed!
