“Once a Black Knight, always a Black Knight.” That’s a motto that numerous Stamford High School staff and faculty members live by. They once walked these halls, sat at the same desks we sit in, ate in the same cafeteria, and probably fell asleep in the same classes we doze off in. Then, after graduating high school and getting college degrees, they had the compelling realization that brought them right back to these classrooms: they just couldn’t live without being a part of this great community. They needed to come back here, needed to find a way to be a part of this school again – and, well, needed a job. So naturally, they ended up back where it all started. We took the chance to get up close and personal with a few of these alumni teachers, to get a glimpse of how they too were student Black Knights, just like we are now.

Melissa Hadsell, English Teacher:

The Round Table: “What was the biggest obstacle you faced in high school?”

Melissa Hadsell: “Basic normal teenage issues that go on today. Not to mention that we had one less building for classes, so that was hard. I remember one time…as we were all going to class my flip flop got lost, so I had to wait until the staircase was clear.”

TRT: “How has the school changed in the sense of drama?”

MH: “Teenage drama will never change, you will always find the bullies, the popular kids; nothing has really changed, except that technology has become a huge influence nowadays. Kids know how to find it all through social media, not to mention how it becomes a distraction.”

TRT: “What made you come back here and teach at Stamford High again?”

MH: “Well, I mean I practically lived my whole life in Stamford, and Stamford High is what shaped my life.”

TRT: “What do you think the old you would say to you now about working back here?”

MH: “Wow, that’s a really hard question! Well, I haven’t changed tremendously, but I’d probably ask myself why I haven’t written that Great American Novel.”

Beth Gillin, English Department Head:

TRT: “What brought you back to SHS as a faculty member?”

Beth Gillin: “Mr. Pavia, really. He was the primary reason I came back. He was my favorite teacher. I had such a great experience as a high school student here; it seemed like an obvious choice.”

TRT: “What is one of your best memories as a student here at SHS?”

BG: “My 20th Century History class with Mr. Pavia, when we did Jeopardy Day and he was Alex Trebek.”

TRT: “How does it feel to know that some of your old teachers are now your coworkers?”

BG: “I love it. I’ve been able to work closely with them in a number of ways, and it’s been great carrying these relationships into my adult life.”

TRT: “How has SHS changed?”

BG: “Technology has changed significantly. Students now have a lot more access to information, but at the same time they are required to be more independent than I think my peers were at the time.”

TRT: “How hasn’t it changed?”

BG: “It’s not changed in that there are still people who feel a tremendous amount of tradition in being a part of the Black Knight family.”

TRT: “What would your high school self say about you working here now?”

BG: “My high school self thought I was going to be a lawyer, but I think my high school self would not be surprised that I gravitated toward a place that was so important.”

Rafael Escobar, Dean of Students:

TRT: “What brought you back to SHS as a faculty member?”

Rafael Escobar: “I was a history teacher at Westhill [High School] for 14 years prior to returning to Stamford High in 2012. Getting the chance to return to SHS as Dean of Students has been a great experience. It feels great to be home!”

TRT: “What is one of your best memories as a student here at SHS?”

RE: “I have many great memories from my years at Stamford High, but one that sticks out was when we beat Westhill for the city championship (I think), on a buzzer beater on Westhill’s home court in 1991.  I remember the fans rushing the court…it was pretty exciting!”

TRT: “How does it feel to know that some of your old teachers are now your coworkers?”

RE: “I was very lucky to have great teachers during my years at Stamford High.  Unfortunately, not too many of my former teachers still work here.  It was, however, very cool to come back to work with a few of my former teachers like Mrs. Pucci, Mr. Levy, and Mr. Pavia.  Besides working with former teachers, I have also been reunited with former classmates who now work at SHS.”

TRT: “How has SHS changed?”

RE: “The physical size of the school has grown considerably with the addition of the new building.  The location of the new building was actually a parking lot when I was a student.  Another major change is the technology available to students and teachers.  Everything from Smart Boards, to multiple computer labs, allow students to have information available to them with the click of a button.”

TRT: “What would your high school self say about you working here now?”

RE: “Seeing as I was a bit of a late bloomer, my response probably would have been, ‘Who? Not me.’”

Matthew Forker, Assistant Principal:

TRT: “What brought you back to SHS as a faculty member?”

Matthew Forker: “What brought me back to SHS was the opportunity to teach.  I had taught at Westhill for one year after my student teaching was completed, and when the opportunity arose I was hired to teach at SHS by our very own Mr. Pavia.”

TRT: “What is one of your best memories as a student at SHS?”

MF: “Probably the teachers I had, going to sporting events (our basketball team won the state championship my senior year), and playing hockey, baseball, and golf for the school.”

TRT: “How does it feel to know that some of your old teachers are now your coworkers?”

MF: “Well, there are not too many that I had as teachers that are still here.  Mrs. Cahill is, Mr. Cardillo, Mr. Levy, Mrs. Sinaguglia (I think), Ms. Anderson, Mrs. Rich, Mr. DelGiudice, Mrs. Pucci (Rudzki back then), and Mr. Kelley.  Mrs. Cahill is the only one who I had that is still working here.  It was a bit weird at first being a new teacher, but the truth is that we all have become great friends and colleagues over time.  The crazy thing for me is that some of my former students [Ms. Clark] now work here!”

TRT: “How has SHS changed?”

MF: “SHS really hasn’t changed that much.  We have a third building and turf fields now, but really kids are kids. I think the biggest change has been technology and real-time information.  The one thing I know is that people who have been associated with this high school continue to love it, myself included.  It is a very special place for people.”

TRT: “What would your high school self say about you working here now?”

MF: “I can’t believe YOU are an assistant principal!”

These former students just couldn’t get enough of SHS. Their school spirit brought them back home to share the same passion other faculty members showed them. BLACK KNIGHTS U-KNIGHT!