(May 31, 2001) -- After 35 years in the Glendale Unified School District, Roger Donahoo will retire in June to join his wife, who is already retired, and move on to Payson, Arizona this summer.

Donahoo currently teaches human body and health and guidance. Last year his schedule included physical education as well as health and guidance. Donahoo devoted his career to teaching students from seventh grade up to college.

In his time teaching in the GUSD, Donahoo has taught health and guidance, sciences and sports; however, his general secondary credential allowed him to teach any subject in any grade between seventh and up to second year of college.

Donahoo, a San Diego State graduate, began teaching at Clark in 1966 when Clark was still a junior high. At that time he taught PE and sciences. Thirty-two years later Donahoo was invited back as one of the original ten teachers to open Clark as a high school in 1998.

One of the highlights of his eighteen-year coaching career came in 1971, he said, when the team he was coaching won the ninth basketball championship and the citywide track meet.
“He was a pretty cool teacher. He wasn’t hard and everyone liked him a lot. I’m sad he’s going. I was hoping the new freshmen would get to have him as a teacher because he’s so great,” sophomore Tatevik Mamiknyan said.

Donahoo’s teaching experience has not only been limited to Glendale. In 1972 Donahoo began teaching  overseas in Ghana, Africa in 1972; Brisbane, Australia in 1973; and Puerto Rico from 1974-75.

Friend and colleague Rebecca Angulo said, “He is one of the most informative, creative and eccentric teachers I have ever had the great opportunity to work with. I will miss my ‘team’ friend dearly. Clark will be at a loss with the teaching he has provided over ‘several’ decades.”

After he retires, Donahoo said he plans to teach some classes at Arizona Community College and possibly teach about 25 days per year. In the meantime Donahoo said his immediate plans include hiking, fly fishing and traveling in the Southwest.