Sonny Louie has taught physics here for two years, but this spring, National Guard called him to duty. His brigade has been deployed to Afghanistan, and he will be working in Winchester, Virginia coordinating and training fellow National Guard members.

Students describe Louie as a bright and happy Physics teacher. They will miss his passion for the subject and good perspective on life while he is gone working for the National Guard.

“I’m definitely going to miss him,” said junior Stella So,  one of Louie’s students. “I’m going to miss the way he taught. He found new ways to discuss things and teach things, such as videos and experiments.”

A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army. Louie’s brigade, of which he is the Chief of Staff, is located in Winchester. His position requires that he coordinates staff functions.

During his time in Winchester, he will be working with the logistics, training, coordinations and communications of his brigade.

This is the third high school he has taught at, and the sixth time he’s had to leave for training. He began in Mt. Vernon High School, and left once for three months of training, and a second time for a year. Next, he taught at South Lakes High School, and left three separate times. His stint at WS has been put on hold due to his brigade’s deployment.

“I’ve left so much here and there that now I’m kind of getting used to the pattern,” said Louie. 

Louie admits that it’s tough to leave WS, but since the job doesn’t move him out of Virginia, he won’t be leaving his family, so he can still be with his pregnant wife at home. He is also excited for a little change and that he won’t be gone for long. Louie will return in 2013, after about a year and a half of duty.

“The thing I’m going to miss the most is the interactions with the students,” said Louie.