While working on assignments during class, many students don’t recognize how closely teachers relate to them and their position. Sometimes, they are closer than they realize and are former West graduates who have watched the school and community grow and change over time. Some of the alumni among the faculty include math teacher Daphne Robertson, CTE teachers David Clore and Brad Bullard.
Clore didn’t think he would end up teaching high school, especially the school he attended. But after getting insight into a job opening, he was excited to return to the village.
“I never dreamed of being a high school teacher. I started out teaching in Davidson County and then somebody let me know that there was a job opening here. West is in the community I live in, so I jumped at the chance to be working in the same community,” Clore said.
Along with the other teachers, Clore values working in the community and has watched the school change and form around the new students.
“Many things have changed. The student parking lot and entrance into West Forsyth to the Main Office addition and the 1000 building to the student population and general population of Clemmons/Lewisville area. Both have since grown and that has resulted in a more populated campus and surrounding town. We also did not have the pressure to take so many AP classes during high school. We only took a couple our senior year and I think that allowed us to be less stressed and enjoy life outside of school,” Robertson said.
Over time, West has changed from physical construction on campus to class courses to the community. All of these teachers can agree that West has physically changed but their opinions differ about the atmosphere changing.
“We participated more in pep rallies and spirit week. We loved being at West and with our friends. I think much of that was because of connections face to face and not over the internet. Cell phones were not there to distract and obviously no social media. We were experiencing life in the present, not observing the life of others from a screen,” Robertson said.
In many cases, screens and technology have impacted and changed students’ experiences with today’s culture. But, it can also change the community in a positive way.
“We’re a lot more diversified than we were 20 or 30 years ago. But I think that’s a true reflection of the world we live in. It’s a lot more diversified than it was 20 years ago,” Bullard said.
Years have passed from when our teacher alumni walked the halls as students but, there are some things that don’t change.
“One thing that hasn’t changed is the school spirit. The school spirit has stayed the same overtime,” Clore said.
The spirit at the village stands out to anyone who walks through here.The village has energy that past students agree has not changed.
“I think the energy is still really the same. I think our community takes great pride in west Forsyth. We’re really lucky to live in a good community that supports both education and athletics,” Bullard said.
Since these teachers have spent most of their lives here in this school and community, there are many things they miss from the past.
“I miss the people, so many people I can’t mention them all. Students that I love and certainly many, many of my former cheerleaders. With each passing year it is bittersweet to welcome new faces but it’s hard to let go of ones from the past as well,” Robertson said.
Every student at the village plays a part in the community and these teachers were a part of the student community as well. Missing old people and meeting new, the past alumni who are now teachers think back to their days as students.
“My senior year was probably one of the most fun and best years I’ve ever had. It was your last year, like spending time with the people who you grew up with. I played baseball here and in college. I look back and I loved playing baseball in college but it still wasn’t the same as playing with the kids you grew up with. I’ve definitely missed that. I look back still to this day and probably one of the best years of my life was my senior year at West,” Bullard said.
Coming back to teach after spending their high school years at West, these teachers can attest to it changing or lack of that. They have memories that every high school student does and they watch their students have these memories that are familiar to them. Some students at the village are inspired by these teachers to come back to teach as well.
