Four teachers will be retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year at Gabrielino High School. Throughout their time at Gabrielino, these teachers have dedicated themselves greatly to both their students and the school community.
In the English department, English teacher Patricia Lopez will be leaving after having taught for 29 years.
“I’ll miss the people I work with. And I’ll miss some students, but not grading papers,” stated Lopez.
Apart from missing the people she works with, she will always hold the interactions she had with her students close to her.
Patricia Lopez began working at Gabrielino in 1994.
“There wasn’t even a senior class. I’ve seen it grow from that to a full high school,” Lopez shared.
Patricia Lopez plans on spending her retirement with her family as well as spending it with her new granddaughter.
Also retiring this year, Scott Brummett leaves the nest after 33 years of dedication to the school.
“You know, developing a school is kind of a unique situation. I was able to have a say in what the football field looked like, what the gym looked like. So, we had some input into things I never thought I would have,” Brummett explained.
Having worked at Gabrielino since 1992, Brummett has not only seen the school grow, but has also grown with it.
In his first few years of teaching, Brummett taught math. He then transitioned to wood shop, an athletic director, a basketball coach, and now, a P.E. teacher.
Brummet will spend his retirement with family, gardening, and traveling.
Also in the physical education department, the Gabrielino community bids farewell to Melissa Lopez and Steve Swanson.
Melissa Lopez teaches freshman P.E., weight training, alternative P.E., and an athletic conditioning class. Born into a family of educators, Lopez knew that teaching was her calling.
Melissa Lopez’s career at Gabrielino started in 1998 when she developed a “professional jealousy” of her husband who was one of the first teachers hired. She explained how she would listen to her husband talk about the earliest development of the school and its progress among the students.
“I was at a very well-established comprehensive school at the time and I enjoyed myself and I liked the people that I worked with. But I had a yearning for something cutting-edge and forward thinking.”
After many years, Melissa Lopez has also seen her own family grow while at Gabrielino.
“All my children came to Gabrielino and graduated from Gabrielino. I love being a part of something so positive,” Lopez explained.
Beginning her retirement, Melissa Lopez will be spending more time with her family and being present for the people who need her.
Similar to Melissa Lopez, Swanson has also been teaching P.E, and coached football for 12 years.
“My golf team won CIF last year which was a milestone, that’s a big deal. For the first boys team to win CIF in school history, I was proud of that, to be a part of that.”
Swanson will spend his retirement playing golf, being with family, and renovating his house.
“You get to know your students pretty well and those relationships as well, but it’s time to move on,” said Swanson.
