Editor’s Note: This piece was also posted in the Benet Herald 2023 Graduation Edition.

After 40 years of teaching at Benet Academy, Mr. Hand is retiring at the end of this school year. Throughout his time at Benet Academy, Mr. Hand has taught computer science as well as various levels of math while coaching varsity girls and boys tennis. In his 38 years as a tennis coach at Benet, Mr. Hand has led the varsity tennis teams through numerous conference championships and trips to the State Championship and has enhanced the Benet Academy tennis program by facilitating multiple singles and doubles camps over the summer. He has a reputation as a tough, but good teacher and many will miss seeing him around school. Mr. Hand recalls knowing that he wanted to be a teacher as early as his junior year of high school, it was just a matter of figuring out what subject to teach. His passion for teaching has only grown stronger since then, which is shown in his lessons. When reflecting on his many years of teaching, Mr. Hand could not pinpoint a single favorite thing about his job. He mentioned liking how every day was something different, especially in his interactions with his students and fellow colleagues. He is grateful to be able to do something for a living that he loves so much. He mentioned that the hardest part of teaching is having to manage time effectively. With assignments to grade and a tennis team to coach, Mr. Hand was very busy throughout his career, but would not trade his experience for anything. He will miss the Benet Academy community the most after he retires, but will never forget the family it has given him these past 40 years. Although he is parting with his teaching career, Mr. Hand plans to continue coaching for two years after his retirement. He feels the time is right and he is looking forward to being more spontaneous now that he will not be tied down to the school schedule. There is no doubt that Mr. Hand will be deeply missed, but staff and students wish him luck in the next phase of his life.