Dennis Walsh

RHS SPED Teacher
35 years

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Shoreview and attended Mounds View High School. I enjoy playing variety sports – Point guard on Basketball and middle distance runner 400m and 800 m. I come from a large Catholic family, the seventh of eight kids and was happy my parents took good care of all of us.

What high school did you attend?
Mounds View High School the pound crowd of 1981, and the fashion styles were very different but interesting.

Where did you attend college?
Additional education? The University of Minnesota BS k-12 Physical Education and minor in coaching. MED Vocational Education with honors, and graduate assistant Trainer Gopher Football with Lou Holtz.

Did you always want to be a teacher?
My father Marty Walsh was an English Teacher in St Paul Schools for 30 years.

What made you decide to be a teacher?
Mounds View High School PE teacher Bob Steward inspired me to be a teacher.

How many years have you been a teacher?
I have been a teacher since 1988,  35 years, 33 years in Minnesota and two years in Hawaii at Kappa High School Kauai, with the Principal of the year Wayne Wattnbi. I worked Seven years for St Paul Schools, Six years for Wayzata School, Three for Osseo Senior , and Three at Brooklyn Center High School. I coached Football, Basketball and Track for 25 years as well.

How many years have you been employed at Rockford Area Schools?
I have been fortunate to work my last year of Teacher with Rockford High School and the amazing teaching staff and kind Principal Paul Menard.

What grade(s) or ages have you taught throughout your career?
I worked mostly middle school through high school, as Resource Math, Language Arts, Work Coordinator, Transitions PACS Lab

What do you look most forward to everyday at Rockford?
I enjoy working with math students and staff who are always welcoming and kind. I have enjoyed working as a basketball official and baseball empire as well.

What is one of your most memorable moments as a teacher?
I enjoyed teaching at Kappa High School Math Resource, and early years as teacher at Harding and Highland High School coaching three varsity sports Cross Country, Basketball and track and field.

What advice would you give a new teacher?
Take training on going listen to the veteran teachers and always stay balanced have things outside of teaching.

What will you miss most about teaching in Rockford?
Well, actually the staff – general education and special education. Most of my students as I did grow to learn how to connect with all of them in time.

What are your plans when you retire?
I want to still teach Math part time and travel with my future wife living in Nashville and move to the warmer climate. 

I enjoy working with math students and staff who are always welcoming and kind. I have enjoyed working as a basketball official and baseball empire as well. – Dennis Walsh

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Retirees from past years