Griffith graduated from OHS in 1957 and went on to the College of Wooster and The Ohio State University. He credits his love of art and teaching to Oakwood art teacher Dick Carmichael.
“He had a huge impact on me and I’m indebted to him for my career,” said Griffith.
Although the career of teaching has changed significantly since he entered the field, Griffith highly recommends it to students pondering a vocation.
“Sure, there’s more paper work and technology, but it’s a good career and I’d recommend it,” he said.
Griffith loves hearing from his former students.
“It’s fun to heart the ‘rest of the story’,” he said.
Long is a 1972 graduate of Alter High School and completed her degree and graduate work at Miami University and the University of Dayton. She began her teaching career at Centerville High School where she taught five years. She then taught five years at Carroll High School before arriving at Oakwood in 1990.
“I’ve always been a teacher. Even when I was a child and we played school; I was the teacher,” she said with a laugh.
Long highly recommends the field of teaching.
“If you love kids and you love to teach, I encourage kids to think about being a teacher,” she said.
Long runs into former students often, especially at University of Dayton basketball games.
“I love to hear what they’re doing,” she said.
Although she’s retired, Long is teaching home-schooled students these days and this past summer she walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain.
“We walked 500 miles in 33 days and met people from all over the world,” she said.
Former students of Long lauded their former Spanish teacher and several credited her for their careers with Spanish speaking organizations. From her weekly conjugation quizzes to her enthusiasm for her profession, teachers, parents and students agree Senora Long made learning fun.
Teachers, parents and students consistently referred to Griffith as a gentleman whose patience and creativity inspired students. “Tom Griffith has principles and integrity and a love of Oakwood,” said one supporter. “No one has been more devoted to the Oakwood Schools.”
One of Griffith’s student recalls, “Mr. Griffith made me proud of my work and that pride translated into the desire to improve myself. He was a wonderful teacher who cared about his students. He gave his students tools and encouragement to explore new ideas.”
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