PLS 2019: Sam

I’ve had a lot of great teachers over the years, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of great teachers as I’ve crossed over to the other side of the desk. As I think about it, my friend Sam might represent the pivot point between those worlds. When we met at the University 32nd YSA Ward, Sam was teaching history at Davis High School, and years before I stepped in front of my first USU composition class, our regular conversations about life and the meaning of it all would feature insights from his day job. It was no surprise to learn that “Mr. Gibbs” was a popular teacher among his students—I’ll never forget one comic episode where one of his former students started attending our singles ward and struggled to call him by his first name. But however you know him, I’ve rarely come across anyone, teacher or no, who was so enthusiastic about his job. After my friend Sam married my friend Christy (a fun phenomenon that happened a lot during that stretch at the U32), they moved back East, where he did grad school and shifted into the administration world. A few years and a few kids later, eventually the path led to St. George, where Sam is now Principal of a charter school. Thanks to a well-timed route south on the way to Death Valley, I was able to add one of my favorite fellow teachers to the Power Lunch series last October. It was awesome to catch up, and learn about Sam’s exploits in Southern Utah, which seem to feature every bit of the enthusiasm he displayed years when I first met him. I’m sure Sam would be capable at most any job, but I have a real hard time imagining him outside the world of education. I’m guessing his former students would agree.