As much as students want to imagine teachers only exist in school, most teachers at West Springfield High School have intricate lives that go far beyond the classroom. The summer of 2025 was no exception. Some teachers went on exciting adventures, others enjoyed simple pleasures, and many found ways to recharge while soaking up the sun.
English teacher Leana Jensen spent part of her summer in Braintree, Massachusetts, her husband’s hometown.
“We went for their annual 4th of July parade, which is a huge deal in the town,” she said. “Braintree’s little league team even made it to the World Series, so watching the game with friends and family was really exciting.”
While some teachers enjoyed the charm of a classic summer tradition, others took more exciting trips.
“Me and my husband went to Disney twice,” said Biology teacher Jennifer Owens. “The highlight was when we decided to try all four parks in one day. It was 114 degrees, but we got up at 6:30 in the morning and didn’t finish until 9 at night. It was tiring and humid but we took breaks in between and had a good time overall.”
Chemistry teacher, Homero Dominguez, also had an interesting story to tell. After being engaged for over two years, he finally got married.
“Your wedding is one moment in your life when the people that are most important to you are all in one room. Everyone I loved was there celebrating my marriage, and it was one of the best days of my life,” said Dominguez.
Ryan Paul, a long term substitute english teacher at WSHS, also had an exciting summer. He traveled to three cities to attend six Beyonce concerts. He even enjoyed his birthday at a concert by getting a special shoutout from Queen Bee herself.
“I call it my cowboy summer! I started it in Paris and finished in Vegas.” said Paul. “Jay-Z and Miley Cyrus even made an appearance,” he added.
From world travel to weddings, teachers filled their summers with moments they’ll never forget. For French teacher Maren Herzog, the highlight was taking a group of students on a two week adventure to France.
“We started off in Paris and took a train to Avignon, where we saw the Pont du Gard, which is the most intact Roman aqueduct that still exists. We saw the Pope’s palace in Arles, and we went to a perfumery where everyone got to try their own scents. We even went down to the South of France!” said Herzog.
After coming back from an exciting summer with her students, Herzog also traveled to Italy with her family.
“I had three days to get re-packed because my husband had planned a trip with our two sons,” said Herzog. “It was tiring but I really enjoyed my summer.”
Economics and Personal Finance teacher Breanna Brown on the other hand, had a less eventful summer. She focused on having fun and prioritizing her social life while also making time for herself.
“I slept in everyday and watched a lot of Netflix, but I also played a lot of volleyball, and my team even made it to the playoffs!” said Brown. “My general life mission is to make everything fun so I lived by that this summer.”
Whether it was cheering at hometown parades, enduring Disney’s heat, or even tying the knot, WSHS teachers made the most of their summers. Now with the new year underway, they return with fresh tans, stories and memories, ready to brave the school year with renewed spirits.
