When Tyrone Middle School teacher Steve Stoner decided to retire this year after 44 years of teaching, he initially thought it would be easiest to not tell anyone and exit quietly at the end of the school year.

But now that word has gotten around that the 2020-21 school year will be his last, Stoner is glad that his colleagues and former students know.

“Originally I just wanted to slip out unnoticed after the last day,” said Stoner, “but I’ve had some very positive interactions with former students that have meant a lot to me. Last month, when the news first broke, [a former student of mine] came right up to me in the hall and asked if I was retiring, and when I said yes, he immediately said, ‘Who is going to be here to inspire these kids?’ If we were allowed to hug students, I would have.”

Stoner has been inspiring students at a variety of grade levels throughout his long career, the last 32 years at TAMS.

He has taught regular education students, gifted students, special needs students, and handicapped students from grades two through twelve. In addition to the Tyrone Area School District, Stoner taught at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in Pittsburgh, the Altoona Area School District, and the Grier School.

However, most of his recent students remember Mr. Stoner as their helpful and caring sixth-grade social studies teacher.

“Mr. Stoner would always give leadership roles and important jobs to everyone in the class. He made sure to make everyone feel special,” said former student and current TAHS sophomore Ashlynn McKinney.

Stoner is a prime example of how teachers measure their success by their students’ success.

“For me, I always feel successful when I see a student finish the year with clear academic growth and, just as important, a strengthened belief in his or her ability to address any challenge and achieve that personal dream,” said Stoner.

It’s clear that Stoner has impacted his students’ lives and helped many to enjoy learning.

“One of Mr. Stoner’s best qualities as a teacher was being able to make his material fun,” said seventh-grader Raeleigh Oliver, one of Stoner’s recent students.

He was also a mentor to many of his sixth-grade colleagues over the years.

“I have worked with Mr. Stoner for most of my teaching career in sixth grade He provided me with curriculum resources to help me get started teaching at this grade level,” said sixth-grade teacher Scott Bouslough, “I am a better teacher because of his guidance and support.”

Surprisingly, teaching was not Stoner’s first career choice. Stoner was originally planning to go into the ministry but after helping out at a summer program for special needs children, his career path changed.

“I found there are many paths and ways to share one’s faith,” said Stoner. “A young boy in that program had multiple handicaps, including being blind. How he dealt with life and what many consider to be overpowering handicaps, inspired me to want to learn as much as I could about blindness and help in some way.”

Stoner went on to earn his degree in elementary education and special education for the visually impaired from Kutztown University in 1973 He also earned a master’s degree in curriculum and supervision from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982.

Stoner’s favorite teaching moments involved finding an active way for students to apply what they were learning.

In reading it was creating a play as part of reading “A Christmas Carol,” a medieval fair that accompanied “Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest”, creating haunted houses or the Poe Party after reading Edgar Allan Poe stories, and raising mice and training them in mazes to go along with “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH”

In social studies his students reenacted historical events and recorded them as docudramas, held debates during presidential election years, built near life-size pyramids after learning of Mexico’s ancient civilizations, debated JFK assassination theories, and for years he held a “Mexico Day” with fellow sixth-grade teacher Elaine Conrad.

“Even in math, it was fun to use the skills we learned. For many years we ran a store, which was the brainchild of former sixth-grade teacher Patti Dutrow, and used marketing and financial skills,” said Stoner.

Stoner will miss his colleagues and students but is excited to live the retired lifestyle.

“What I am most looking forward to is setting my own schedule,” said Stoner. “I also would like to travel more and spend more time gardening.”

It’s easy to say that Steve Stoner will be missed. He will be known for more than just being a teacher, but for helping others when they truly need it.