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 Guidance counselor Beverly Maselli presented William Steel a card consisting of old newspaper clippings, personal notes from students and a certificate to honor his 20 years of volunteerism. |
Mount Greylock's Tutor Extraordinaire Bill Steel RetiresBy Andy McKeever
iBerkshires Staff
05:53PM / Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Superintendent of Schools Rose Ellis refered to Steel as the school's 'tutor extraordinaire.' |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — After retiring from Pine Cobble School in 1991, William "Bill" Steel missed teaching.
So he went to the Mount Greylock Regional High School and offered to tutor students. The administration told him "don't call us, we'll call you."
On his way out, he realized he didn't say he was willing to do it for free. When he did, it changed the course of his next 20 years.
Now, after two decades as the high school's substitute and tutor "extraordinaire," Steel is calling it quits. Again.
"I've been here a long time and I've had a joyful time," Steel said Tuesday night when the School Committee honored his retirement. "The level of teachers here is very high. Sometimes it's so high that I don't have to do any tutoring."
Superintendent of Schools Rose Ellis and members of the guidance department presented Steel with an oversized card and gifts to recognize the effort he has given the school in teaching any subject needed.
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Steel was known for skiing to school from his home at Sweetwood. |
"He wanted to work with students. That was his passion," Ellis said. "Here at Mount Greylock, he has worked with a generation of students and his dedication and his selfless commitment to our students is remarkable."
Steel started his teaching career in 1937 after graduating as a Latin major from Williams. Originally from Chicago, Steel moved around a bit before returning to Williamstown — mainly for the skiing.
At Mount Greylock, Steel was known for skiing across the back trails to the school from his home at Sweetwood Retirement Community. His co-workers chuckled Tuesday remembering days when the weather was so bad that he shouldn't have skied but did anyway.
"I want to thank you," guidance counselor Beverly Maselli said Tuesday and presented a card consisting of old newspaper clippings about him, personal notes from students and a certificate.
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Tags: MGRHS, retire, teacher,
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| He is an incredible man - and many of us are much better off just to have known him - Here's to years of retirement! | | from: Myself | on: 01-18-2012 08:27PM
I Agree (11) - I Disagree (0) |
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| I had Mr. Steel as a tutor just a couple of years ago. This man is a wonderful person and a true gift to all of us students. Mr. Steel is wish you the best! | | from: mg alum | on: 01-19-2012 09:18PM
I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0) |
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Thank you Mr.Steel for teaching me so many things as a student at Pine Cobble for all those years. I fondly remember the thimble,and ski club. :) Thank you again.
Dan | | from: Dan Weissbrodt | on: 01-22-2012 10:24AM
I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0) |
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Bill was patient and kind. He helped make many marginal students successful. All of us can learn from his example.
Bill Travis | | from: Wbill | on: 01-24-2012 04:33PM
I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0) |
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| Please tell me they did more for this man than reluctantly accepting his free services and thanking him with a jumbo greeting card... | | from: Jon | on: 02-08-2012 10:14AM
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0) |
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