After 25 years at CORE, beloved math teacher and coach Mr. Koons, the school’s longest-serving educator, is finally retiring. He has taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Business Math throughout his years as a teacher and has coached basketball, volleyball, and golf. Through the thick and thin of CORE, Mr. Koons has been here for it. He has seen the transition from purely independent study to now mostly in-person classes, which he says he likes better and believes helps students learn more effectively. Before CORE had many sports facilities, Mr. Koons really helped get them “up and running,” said Mr. Harvey. 

With lots of good and bad memories, Mr. Koons says his favorites are “being with the kids, watching them grow and mature.” He expressed how much he enjoys being a coach and spending time with the players. Even though many things have changed over the years, he says that “the kids aren’t much different”. Remaining consistent throughout every year as a teacher is what he is most proud of. “Even when things aren’t going perfectly, showing up to work is sometimes all you can do”. 

Over 45 years of teaching solidified Mr. Koons’ schedule. “School is all I’ve known, whether being in school or teaching it”, he said. However, teaching is not the only job that he has done. He has been a retail worker, a shoe salesman, an administration worker, a loan officer, and even a garbage collector. After those jobs, he taught at and served as principal for three Christian schools. 

So what set Mr. Koons on the path to so many years of teaching? He tells the story of a tennis class one year in college. On the bottom half of their split tennis court, he was teaching one of his classmates how to play tennis when they said he was good at teaching and should become a teacher. He thought that they were right, and here he is. After he retires, Mr. Koons plans to play more golf and pickleball, as well as going fishing and doing more travelling. Along with excitement for retirement, he feels that it will be much different and hard to get used to.

Guided by faith, Mr. Koons expresses his strong belief in Christ. “I follow Christ’s teaching; it affects who I am and how I interact with the kids,” he said. Becoming a Christian late in life, at age 27, only spurred him further to honor God and to show the light of Christ. Proverbs 3:5-6 is Mr. Koons’ favorite Bible verse, inspiring him to trust in the Lord to show him what to do in this new season of life. Mr. Harvey says that losing Mr. Koons will be like losing some of the “walking history of CORE”.