Retiring is a big change in one’s life, especially after so many years working in the same career, in the same place. This will be true for OH teacher, self-published author, and former baseball coach, Christopher Neitzel who is officially setting down his bat and getting ready to empty his classroom after 35 years of teaching.
“It’s a little surreal,” Neitzel said. “I signed my papers four years ahead of time, which felt weird, but since then it’s just been kind of inevitable.”
Throughout Neitzel’s years here at OH, he’s had many so different experiences as an OH grad, teacher, coach, and Oswego resident. This has allowed him to create different relationships with people over time.
“I [first] met him in 1991 when he subbed for my PE class,” said OH graduate and social studies teacher Gregory Verdino, who now is a colleague of Neitzel’s in the OH Social Studies Department. “He was a great team captain, and I’m happy for him to finally escape,” Verdino added.
Neitzel has always lived around the Oswego area, and as an OH grad, he is very familiar with the halls of OH as they have changed over the years.
“My family moved here in ’76, and I graduated from OH in ’86. I stayed because I needed a job, and some of my coaches here offered me a job to help coach,” said Neitzel.
Neitzel started working and coaching three sports during the spring of ‘91. Then, he began subbing internally, and it wasn’t until his third year that he got his first classroom.
“It was really hard to get social studies jobs in the mid 90’s,” Netzel recalled. “In fact, I wouldn’t have gotten the job if it wasn’t for the early retirement deals they were giving to teachers,” he said.
After getting the position he wanted, Neitzel stayed at OH and never switched districts, which eventually gave him a very high seniority within the district. Out of 1,700 teachers currently in the Oswego School District, Neiztel is placed an impressive 4th on the seniority list.
“Seniority was only part of my reason for staying. Most teachers don’t like to teach where they live. I never minded it,” Neitzel said. “I know it sounds silly, but I’m proud to be a part of Oswego, and I’m not gonna move away after I retire.”
After Neiztel retires, he plans to take some time to think about what he wants to do. He was thinking of writing again, selling things on eBay, and maybe even teaching at a college.
Neitzel said, “Any positive effects I have on kids are [what is] most important. Honestly, I don’t really care about awards or anything like that. I just feel weird when people talk about me in that way,” said Neitzel.
Most people who know Neiztel enjoyed his presence here at OH and talk quite highly of him.
“He is very literate and has so much knowledge, and whenever I meet someone who went to OH, they almost always say their favorite class was Psychology with Mr. Neitzel,” said Verdino.
His students have appreciated him as a teacher, because he stays on task and makes everything interesting and simple.
“I like that he always has an interesting story to go along with every lesson,” said senior Ross Hatzinger. “He should be proud of getting this far into his career, and maintaining a very compelling and effective style of teaching.”
Neitzel has a big personality. He’s enthusiastic with his teaching and is always trying to engage his students, but when it comes to awards and praise, he is truly humble. Neitzel said he loves his community and is grateful for all the opportunities he has had.
In these last few weeks before his retirement, Neitzel said, “Any last words that I have, hopefully I’m not gonna die… but actually as I go out, I will continue to honor the people that were here before me like, Darrel Thompson, Coach [Karl] Hoinkes, and Mr. [Ken] Pickerill.”
These past staff members had a great impact on the OH community, yet as humble as he is, Neitzel will be remembered like his heroes because he has done so much for the students here in the classroom, on the field, and in the community.
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