At the age of 70, after a full 47 years of teaching at Highline High School, David Craig is retiring this summer.

Over the years, Craig has acted as a business teacher, information technology teacher, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) student club advisor and the head of countless committees at the local high school.

But after countless times of extending his career "just one more year," Craig has made the decision to join his wife, Paula, in retirement.

His story began in the Tri-Cities, which subsequently took him to Washington State University. It was here that he met his wife and discovered his passion for teaching. Coming to the Highline School District was by chance, and happened quite suddenly, Craig recalls. Both he and his wife received letters to interview with the district and were both accepted shortly thereafter.

Craig remembers being impressed with the students and staff of Highline High and soon won their respect through his method of teaching. As long as he has taught, he has believed in valuing each student and making a personal connection with each that will last a lifetime.
He explains that once you make a connection like that, "that never changes," citing the e-mails he still gets from his original group of students as well as more recent students.

Scott Husar, a former student who returned for a time to Highline High to teach recently contacted Craig to tell him, "You have truly made a positive difference in our profession and on so many lives. I would likely not be where I am now if not for your wisdom, caring, and compassion."

Craig's coworkers have a similar opinion of him. It was business teacher Tim Crawley who recommended an article on Craig's retirement. Crawley declared that Craig was always positive and patient with other teachers and with students.

"I've never seen him upset," Crawley noted.
He also praised Craig's leadership roles within the school, such as being the department head for business and leading the largest FBLA chapter in the state.

"He's probably served on every committee in the school," Crawley said. He also mentioned how Craig always encourages student involvement, citing that as the probable reason behind Craig's success with the FBLA chapter.

Though Craig has always believed in the teaching method that he was introduced to by his 5th grade teacher, technology has altered the way he teaches.

"I've been here through it all," Craig explains, remembering the computer lab of Apple IIe's Highline used to have. Now Craig has nine more modern computers at his disposal, and he can rotate students through them quickly.

The explosion of information available to students and teachers since Craig's early teaching days in the 1960s means that he became able to expose students to information as it was happening and has reduced the time it takes to communicate information.

Now that his retirement is fast approaching, Craig still can't believe the response he has gotten, and the number of students and teachers who have contacted him.

"You expect that when you retire, it's going to be quiet, and that's that," he explained. Far from that, he says that the experience has been overwhelming. "It almost leaves me speechless. It's very humbling to hear all these things. I had no idea all this was going to happen."

He knew that it was going to be difficult for him to retire though; he teaches all four grade levels and every time he has considered retiring in the past, students have always asked him to stay another year.

His career will not end silently, though; there will be a final celebration for Craig on June 23, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Highline High School cafeteria.