6/2/13
RETIREMENT: Four Poly teachers will leave at the end of this school year.
By Hannah Lerstad, Staff Writer
After many years of dedication, teachers Haniyyah Mubashshir, Richard Steffen, Ed Jones and Susan Magdolen are all saying goodbye to Poly.
Mubashshir, a literature teacher, has taught for 40 years overall and spent 21 years of her career at Poly High. She spent six years in the Peace Corp before teaching, and has taught in several school districts.
“Of all the school districts I’ve worked in, Poly has some of the hardest-working teachers I’ve ever seen. I became a better teacher because of that,” Mubashshir said.
She plans on gardening, volunteering in Rialto, scrapbooking, organizing a large family reunion and going on a vacation to New Orleans in her retirement.
Choir and Chamber Singers teacher Richard Steffen has taught at Poly for all 29 years of his career.
“I’ll miss working with so many talented students who come every day to develop their singing skills,” Steffen said.
Steffen will continue to help develop singers by working in his church’s choir after he has retired. He also wants to hike every day.
Jones, a special education teacher, spent 25-and-a-half of his 28 teaching years at Poly.
“Poly’s a great school with a lot of tradition and a lot of great things happening,” Jones said.
In his retirement, Jones will be on a CIF golf committee, volunteer with the Southern California Golf Administration (SCGA) and travel.
Magdolen, a history teacher, has spent 37 years teaching; 23 of those years were spent at Poly.
“My own daughters both went here, and I was able to go up onstage and give them their diplomas. I’m lucky to like what I teach. I’ll miss my subject matter, my colleagues and my students. I’ll miss everything,”
Magdolen plans on traveling and using her retirement to figure out what she wants to do in her retirement.
With all the years of hard work and dedication they have put into teaching, the retirees are content to know that they have made a positive impact on Poly students’ lives.