District Staff Filled with Lkwd Grads

Below is just a sampling of what some of the alums had to say about coming back home: 

• “Watching these kiddos travel some of the same paths I did warms my heart. They are learning, as I did, about pride in self, school, and community. I feel like I've come full circle as a Ranger. From student, to graduate, to parent, and now staff, I am proud to be a part of this beloved school system and look forward to many more years cheering on our past, current, and future Rangers! 

• “I can't describe what it means, it resonates within you.  I feel most of us would describe it the same way.”

• “Being part of the Ranger community as an educator has made me feel connected to something bigger than just a job, and it’s reinforced how important relationships and community are to me!”

•  Lakewood (specifically LHS) will always hold a special place in my heart. It's where I met my husband, found my best friends, and figured out who I could be. It's especially meaningful now to watch my own children experience their "growing up" journey as Rangers.”

While most of our Lakewood alumni staff cherish the experience of returning to work in their old school district, there is one challenge many of them never quite overcome: calling their former teachers by their first names. Whether they’ve worked here one year or 30, the awkwardness persists. Most alumni staff continue to address them just as they did when they were a student, although some grew comfortable with in within a couple years. 

• ”I've been in the district for almost 30 years and when I see some of my former teachers at events  I still call them Mr. or Mrs.!”

• “It's still awkward! Some of my colleagues were once my sons' teachers, so there's still a respect there that I don't think will ever go away.”

• “It still feels almost impossible for me to refer to former teachers by their first names.”

• “It took at least a couple of years to actually call them by their first name and it never stopped being awkward.”

For many alumni staff members, the decision to return to Lakewood was inspired by the educators who made a lasting impact on their lives. 

• “Every teacher I had while going through the Lakewood City Schools made a different impact on me. The positive culture of the schools comes from the teachers, students, and admin. In addition, every teacher is accepted for who they are and able to be themselves, which was a huge draw for me.” 

• “This first teacher who inspired me to become a teacher was Tiffany Hickey, my fourth grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School. Her kindness and positivity radiated each day and I always wanted to be like her!”

• “In some way,  all of the teachers I had played a part in me wanting to come back to Lakewood.”  

Today, these former students are creating the same experiences for a new generation of Rangers. As teachers, support staff, administrators, and mentors, they are helping students build memories, discover their passions, and find a sense of belonging—just as their own educators once did for them. It is a reminder that once a Ranger, always a Ranger!