By: Nick Pratt

Most schools aren’t lucky enough to have a history, government, and economics teacher that keep their classes exciting by mixing personal stories with the lessons they are teaching that day. But, guess what, Eisenhower is! That teacher is Mr. Penley. He has been teaching for 14 years, coaching football here for 17 years, and has been the school’s Athletic Director for three. The Squire has requested to ask him a few questions about his career and what is happening currently with some of the sports here at Eisenhower.

The Squire: How many years have you been teaching, coaching, and being the Athletic Director?
Jim Penley: I’ve been teaching for 14 years (12 at Eisenhower), coaching for 20 years (17 at Eisenhower), and AD for three years.
TS: What is your favorite part about teaching?
JP: My favorite part about teaching is getting to teach people that want to be taught and those interested in the subject.
TS: If you weren’t coaching the football team, what other sport would you coach?
JP: Baseball, definitely.
TS: What made you want to start coaching football?
JP: I loved the family aspect of the team, and the backgrounds of the players. I love seeing kids compete against terrible odds and seeing them try to find a way to win.
TS: If you weren’t teaching history, government, and economics, what other subject would you like to teach?
JP: Earth Science.
TS: What is one of your favorite stories that you’ve experienced while being at Eisenhower?
JP: Maybe my favorite story that I tell is my Ghost Hill story because it was such a weird experience that I cannot completely explain.
TS: What are your thoughts on the recent board meeting to consolidate sports programs?
JP: I understand the monetary aspect, but I don’t see a reason to take the opportunity from the kids, especially when we can fill the teams.
TS: Thank you for your time.

As you can tell, Mr. Penley is quite the interesting character. Not only is he a teacher, he also has numerous other responsibilities as well, like being the football coach and the school’s AD. The Squire would like to thank Mr. Penley for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to allow us to interview him. Make sure to stop by his room to say hi, or stop by some of the football games this coming season.