Written By: Daniel Holscher, Staff Writer, and Jaidan Slowik, Staff Writer in Training
ARRIVAL: Poly High School’s social studies department now has a new teacher; Poly welcomes Mr. Dillon as he settles into his first year
Poly has gained an experienced educator due to recent cuts at EOC. Mr. Dillon joins our social studies department. Although he is new to Poly, his legacy as a teacher stretches over the span of 38 long years. Mr. Dillon takes pride in his political science degree from the University of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. After earning his degree, he decided to move over to California to fight wildfires for the US forest service, something he dedicated himself to for five years of his life. After that phase was over, Dillon went back to his roots, deciding he “wanted to do something with his degree, so he went to UCR to get his teaching credentials.” He then packed his bags to move back to Pennsylvania, where he taught for 21 years (1986-2007). Dillon came back to California after the graduation of his kids to take up the challenge of educating other teachers. He instructed on how to teach American History in their classrooms. Suddenly, “the recession hit, and things changed, so that’s how I ended up at EOC,” Mr. Dillon explains. Coming full circle, Mr. Dillon is now one of our Ethnic Diversity teachers (a new required course for 9th graders.
Mr. Dillon has a number of hobbies that he enjoys with any free time he has – most notably, cooking and spending time with his grandchildren. “I find it relaxing to take maybe a Sunday afternoon and cook a nice meal to enjoy,” he explained. Mr. Dillon stated that it’s “teaching, cooking, and grand kids” that have come to represent the life he lives. He emphasizes his love of curiousity.” “I always tell my students that questions are more important than answers,” he expressed. He enjoys when students try to “search for meaning” rather than it be within the context of the literature or everyday life. Mr. Dillon comes from a family of teachers, and therefore, it comes natural to him. He “always gets excited when he gets into a classroom with students that makes him a thinker,” he expressed enthusiastically
As Mr. Dillon takes the stage for his first year at Poly, he’s optimistic about beginning his time here. “I want to sit back and learn what the culture of Poly is as I integrate into the school,” Dillon explains. Welcome to Poly Mr. Dillon! On behalf of all of us, we are excited for your continued success and teachings as a staff member here at our school. Go Bears!