Often when you ask a child, “what do you want to be when you grow up?,” he or she will reply with; lawyer, business owner, teacher, etc. For Mr. Brian Haley, all were a dream come true. But, it’s finally time to hang up the gavel, shut the doors, and say goodbye to his home for the past 26 years: North Penn High School.
Long-term government teacher at North Penn, Mr. Haley, will be retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. After attending Villanova law school, working as a lawyer for 15 years, and opening his own law firm, he realized that teaching would be a better fit. It allowed him to share his love and knowledge of government with countless high school students.
“After getting out of law school, I liked parts of it, but there was just a lot I didn’t like. I just didn’t feel like I was doing any good. I was running my own firm for a while and I grew exhausted. And I said, ‘I have to do something else’,” explained Haley. “I started thinking what else I could do and I thought, well, I could still be a teacher.”
From teaching World Cultures, Contemporary Global Issues, American History, and more; Haley found his true passion teaching government, at the 5.0 and AP level.
“Talking to high school kids every day and trying to make them understand the importance of understanding civics in government, why it’s important. We live in the era where people go to college for other subjects; science, technology, engineering, and math because that’s where the income is,” Haley stated. “For me, it’s taking a room full of smart kids who are focused on other things and making them realize how important this is.”
During his 26 years at North Penn, Haley didn’t just teach but also was the advisor to the Mock Trial team for the past 23 years, the Model UN, the Republican club for two years, and every four years helped run the school districts mock presidential convention.
“I’ve known Mr. Haley since my sophomore year when I signed up for Mock Trial. He’s the coach for the team and genuinely made Mock Trial such an amazing experience. Going to states with him last year was an unforgettable experience and I’m so grateful to have learned so much from him,” North Penn High School senior Hailey Swyter said. “My favorite memories in class this year have been recapping current events at the start of every class—he makes sure we are always informed and encourages discussion on so many different topics.”
Whether students have him in class, as an advisor or simply pass his smiling face in the halls; they are lucky to have gotten the chance to know Mr. Haley during his time at North Penn.
“My favorite thing about his class is the comforting environment he provides for his students, it makes the class all the more fun and entertaining,” North Penn High School senior Kathryn Romanoski reflected.
In his retirement Haley can be found on the golf course or travelling with his wife. While he is looking forward to the freedom, he isn’t planning to fully leave North Penn behind, whether it be popping in on a Mock Trial meeting, or having breakfast with his past coworkers and fellow retirees.
“My attitude has always been that I don’t take it personal. I used to be a high school student; my behavior was on some days good, some days; “what is he doing?” I just hope teachers don’t take it personal. It’s not about you, they’re just teenagers,” Haley explained. “There’s good in every one of them, we just have to find it.”
After years of shaping minds, checks and balances, AP testing, and democracy; it’s time for a well-earned recess for Haley.