By Eva Xu
Feature Editor
Staff will honor retiring teachers Dale Smith, David Dickie and Lyle Takeshita in the Media Center on May 20 during the last Wednesday staff meeting of the school year. The annual breakfast features tributes from each teacher’s department and a retirement gift for their years at Temple City.
Dale Smith
Dale Smith began his career in the TCHS English department as a student teacher. As an English instructor for 21 years, he taught at three grade levels and currently teaches English 2 and English 2 Honors for sophomores. Prior to teaching, Smith worked in the automobile and film industries.
“I grew up immersed in books and reading,” Smith said. “I always thought it would be cool to be like that college professor or English teacher, who can quote Shakespeare and have a corduroy coat with elbow patches on it.”
Students know Smith for his unique teaching style and self-developed curriculum.
“I want to show students how you can apply what you’re learning to your personal life now and throughout the rest of your life,” Smith said. “So I try to show how I apply it to my life. And so I’m not afraid to crash and burn in front of you guys miserably. Any student who ever learned something from me, that’s huge.”
In the future, Smith plans to join writing groups, start a podcast and publish books. He foresees becoming a substitute teacher and continuing his hobby of playing the racing game Forza.
David Dickie
Engineering Design Technology, Advanced Computer Aided Design and Advanced System Design teacher David Dickie is retiring after 29 years of teaching.
“When you have students for three years in a row, there’s this amazing community of students who work together,” Dickie said. “Working like that has been just a blessing, and you start really caring for them.”
Dickie developed the EDT course material independently to align with Pasadena City College standards so that students could receive college credit. Students could also compete and earn their SolidWorks certification.
After retirement, Dickie plans to continue inventing in his garage and post 3D printing files. He also wishes to pursue his dream of becoming a chaplain.
“After my dad retired, he was a chaplain in Central California in a 5,000-man prison,” Dickie said. “I went to work with him a little bit and just really fell in love with that. I feel like, as a Christian, the Lord’s kind of closing the door here and opening another door as I retire.”
Lyle Takeshita
After 32 years, Earth Science and Health teacher Lyle Takeshita is retiring from teaching. He will return next school year to continue coaching Boys Basketball during the winter season and Boys Golf during the spring. Prior to TCHS, he taught at Schurr High School for four years.
“And it was once told to me by a former retired teacher of ours, ‘you’ll have that feeling like you’re ready,’” Takeshita said. “And I do. I’ll miss the camaraderie of our staff. I’m in the science and the PE department, and both are great. I think that’s what I’ll miss most.”
Takeshita has also coached boys’ and girls’ volleyball and served as an advisor for numerous clubs. Post-retirement, he wants to travel more and continue playing golf.
“Having former students—but more so former players, come back and express appreciation for me coaching them is an achievement,” Takeshita said. “For a lot of our athletes, the sport part of it is a big part of their lives. So to have that player come back and say, ‘Hey, thanks for being a part of it,’ it’s nice.”