Kelly says goodbye after 29 years

After 29 years of teaching, Jonathan Kelly has made the decision to retire. Over the course of the school year, he has resided in various classrooms throughout the school. Kelly has seen the school undergo many renovations including its expansion completed in 2000. Concluding the final chapter of his teaching career, with hopes to travel the country, Kelly has made an impact on both students and teachers lives in his time here.

Kelly taught history classes for students in grades 9-12, including Strategic Studies and World History. His students had many positive things to say about Kelly. Senior Ben Provost will remember Kelly’s strategic studies class project. The class got the chance to design a siege on Kelly’s hypothetical castle. Provost, along with his classmates, had to take Kelly’s castle down. Provost also said he’ll remember Kelly’s unforgettable personality.

“I’m going to miss how chill he is because I don’t think that there are any teachers that match his level of chillness.”

Provost also revealed the thing he will take away from Kelly,  “He taught me about the importance of networking between people and how it works in the real world, and I’m definitely going to take that away as one of the most important things from high school.”

Co-workers who have worked many years alongside Kelly also had positive comments to say about their work experience with him and the bond between their friendships. History teacher Stephanie Viens will miss Kelly’s enthusiasm for teaching, his dry sense of humor, and she will miss seeing him everyday. Viens learned that she knows what is best for her students from Kelly. Viens also revealed many stories about Kelly, showing how he’s more than just a teacher here at South Hadley High. “Textbooks don’t have have that teaching instinct that a teacher does,” she said. Viens added the impact that Kelly has had on her life has “made me for committed to teaching, knowing that I belong here and that teaching is a calling.”

Viens’ message to Kelly is for him not to be a stranger; she wants him to come back and stay connected to the students.

Principal Diana Bonneville added that Kelly is a passionate teacher who cares about his kids. “He comes off as a serious guy, but once you get to know him he’s a giant teddy bear,” she said. Her favorite memory of him involves the childcare room. When she found Kelly playing “The Giant Parachute Game” with the kids, the smile on Kelly’s face was Bonneville’s most precious memory. Bonneville said she will miss the competition between Kelly and science teacher Mitchell Koziol.

When asked about his retirement, Kelly revealed that his favorite memories and what he will miss the most are the kids. He said he felt privileged and honored to have the opportunity to work with the students of South Hadley. Working in South Hadley High School was everything that Kelly wanted and more. Kelly shared a few of the many things he’s learned from being a teacher, including “patience, and understanding that people learn at different times, but everybody can learn. It takes some longer than others.”

Kelly has also witnessed many changes in the school such as going from a strict, disciplinary school to more student friendly. Kelly disclosed that he worked two years at Berkshire County and 29 years in South Hadley. Kelly will be looking forward to not waking up at 5:30 am in his retirement and not being out in the cold mornings. Kelly is hoping to travel in the upcoming spring to visit many historical places. Kelly revealed the impact that South Hadley High school has had on him: “This school, I always thought was mine. I’ve been here 29 years and I really enjoy the students. The biggest impact on me has always been the students. They are pleasant, friendly, and outgoing, I couldn’t imagine a better place to work.”

Kelly has stayed in contact with many students, including those he’s now friends with from his first year of teaching. Kelly’s message to his students is “Work hard. Find a job that you enjoy. Find your dream and pursuit it, don’t let people stop you. Do what makes you happy!”