Glenn High School said goodbye to a beloved teacher, mentor, and colleague, Mr. Stephen Herring Jr., as he takes the next step in his career as Assistant Principal at Konnoak Middle School. While his departure is bittersweet, his impact on the Bobcat family will not soon be forgotten.
Mr. Herring has been more than a math teacher since he arrived at Glenn in August 2014. Over the years, he has taught many classes, including Foundations of Math I, Math I, Math I SIOP, Math II, Discrete Math, and ECM. His dedication to students did not end in the classroom—he also served as the school's football videographer and was the School Improvement Team (SIT) Chair for 4.5 years.
Mr. Herring's most remarkable contribution was his zeal for bringing math to every student. In trying to help his SIOP students more, he learned Spanish mathematics on his own. He created videos in Spanish and uploaded them onto Canvas so students could learn at school as well as in the home. This level of commitment is something a true teacher always does.
Outside his own classroom, Mr. Herring was a rock of support to his fellow colleagues. Whether assisting as a Canvas expert, donating leave to others who needed it, or covering when others were having personal crises, he was the very model of teamwork and selflessness.
As we praised him on his new venture, the Glenn family gathered for a farewell teary-eyed. The room was with laughter and memories as friends and colleagues talked of his impact. Some of the moments of the party included:
"Herring Cake" – A cake inscribed "Congrats Herringness," baked by AVID teacher Dorey Thomas.
"Bakery for Life" – An image of the friendship of Jennifer Leahy, Bob Horn, Stephen Herring Jr., Allison George, and Anita Neil. Their math wing, which they affectionately called "The Bakery" because it's hotter than an oven, was just that little bit more than a corridor—it was family.
"Herring Card" – A touching moment when Mr. Herring read a card signed by colleagues and students, cleverly edited by Art teacher Erin Jones to read, "So Mushroom in OUR heartS for you."
When asked about his time at Glenn, Mr. Herring reflected and stated, "Lots of memories, lots of friendships, great colleagues, great students, and contrary to what people/the public might think, Glenn is a school that does really well. A school where students learn and develop, and I am proud to have been a part of that tradition/process!!"
Mr. Herring, you will be so missed at Glenn High School, but we are all so proud of you. Konnoak Middle School is lucky to have such a dedicated and passionate leader. Best wishes with your new chapter!