As the second semester grows nearer, two known members of staff will be heading into retirement. Mr. Jim Davidson, engineering teacher, is retiring today, as well as Mrs. Betsy Tanzillo, AV department head, will retire at the end of the semester.

“I remember being so nervous with the new media specialists coming in,” Mrs. Tanzillo said. “Before we had computers, it was a lot of bulletin board creating and checking out books. Once the computers came, that became most of my day.”

One of the first faces students see as they walk into the media center, Mrs. Tanzillo has been an AV director since 2007.

“It’s fun to see the new teachers come in,” Mrs. Tanzillo said. “Actually, I had seen Mr. Davidson in the copy room and I said ‘I haven’t seen you, but I’m retiring!’ and he said ‘so am I!’”

Mr. Davidson has not only been teaching, but coaching at MHS since 1992. Every year since then, with the exception of last, Mr. Davidson has coached boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, varsity softball and girls’ varsity golf teams. After retiring, he will be the head women’s basketball coach at Calumet College in Whiting.

“I’m ready to go into something else, but that first week when I’m not seeing all you guys will be tough,” Mr. Davidson said. “You have so many kids with so many names to remember, it makes you feel good to know you’ve made an impact.”