Over 540 years of experience is leaving the Hanover School Division.

36 HSD staff members who have served between 5 and 50 years have announced their retirement and will not be returning next fall. Among them, Pat Fast who has been teaching at Niverville Collegiate

Pat Fast (Photo credit: Hanover School Division). Institute since 1989.

“I know to be at one school for your entire career is very unusual," observes Fast, "but I just felt that I never wanted to leave.”

Though technology has improved, and teaching methods have changed over the years, Fast feels a good story has, and will always be the best way to access the minds of students.

“I’ve always been a storyteller,” he comments, “it went very well for me when I taught back in ‘89 and the kids today love it as well.”

Fast stresses that a personal connection to the students is more important than anything else one can do as an educator and says that idea has always informed his personal philosophy.

Like many others, Fast found the decision to retire a difficult one to make. While he is no longer an employee of HSD, he says there is a high likelihood he will return to the school as a substitute teacher someday.