by Noa Ibson and Jane Schaefer
For the first issue, we interviewed Mr. Duane Pierson. Between being principal and teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Alaska, from what he wanted to be when he grew up to what he would do with an elephant, there were many discoveries made about Mr. Pierson.
Mr. Pierson has been the assistant principal of HUMS for 4 years but that isn’t all he’s done. He taught in Alaska in a one-room schoolhouse and worked at the University of Alaska as a teacher. But the whole time he’s worked in the HUUSD district he has been a principal.
The best part about Mr. Pierson’s job is when he gets to talk to the students. “I wish I had a lot more opportunities to do that,” he says. When asked if he was proud of the students that he has watched grow from young kids to adults he said that he is not proud of them, he is proud for them. “I’m not the one who makes them who they are, they make themselves who they are. I feel lucky.”
Just by talking to Mr. Pierson, I can tell he’s an amazing man who loves his job and the kids he gets to see every day. He is funny and caring and always has a smile on his face. He’s always there when you need him.
The final question he was asked was what would he do if he had an elephant and couldn’t sell it or give it away. His answer reflected who he is as a person. He said that he would build a barn for it. He would play with it every day. “It would be awesome!”