By Valendy Pierre
If you walked around the school and ask the student body who their favorite teacher is, you would get various answers: Mr. Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Houvouras, etc. You will hear those names a lot but every third of five people will mostly say Mr. Scahill. He did not plan to become a teacher, but now he is one of the favorites at Apopka High School—and I’m sure other schools because who doesn’t love him? His first year at Apopka about thirty years ago, the principal at the time called Mr. Scahill and asked if he could teach the drama class. The plan was to be at Apopka for about one year—thirty years later he is here now beloved by the student body and faculty. Though they were established by his drama students in the 80’s, He is currently teaching TV Productions and Darter News Network, also known as the DNN. Scahill is a hardworking man, you can refer to him as Superman per se of Apopka, and will be missed when he retires in 2020.
How long have you been teaching at Apopka?
Over thirty years.
Why did you choose to teach as your profession?
I stumbled into it—I did not teach on purpose, I stumbled across it and have stumbled for thirty some odd years.
What are some ways you’ve impacted your students’ lives?
Well, two of them are getting married—I can great credit for that one…They’ve [the students] picked up all the stupid stuff I’ve said over the years and they keep saying it to people [chuckles].
What are some things you’ve learned from working with a bunch of teenagers?
I learned to try and stay young, which the minute I retire I know I’ll be old because I won’t know what’s the latest hit song, or who the group is, or who’s rapping what…
What do you have planned after you retire in next year and eight months?
Go to a retirement home and not talk to anyone under the age of 25… [Laughs] and I want to see an ID.