To many people, high school teacher Corey Baird is the person who teaches you about the immigration system through Elis Island and sorting through the chaotic founding of the United States. But this mastermind does more than remember historical dates and facts. Many of your favorite high school memories are backed by the support and guidance of Baird—homecoming rallies, decorations, parades, dances, senior activities, graduation, and more. Baird has been at Stockbridge for 25 years and has seen generations of students and even former students’ kids pass through his class. When Baird first started teaching, he taught US history and Global Issues, but it was then that he also started advising the student council. Today, Baird still teaches US History to freshmen, but he also teaches the juniors and seniors how to be leaders.
“I advised the student council right from the moment I got hired here in the summer of 2000 and the leadership class was started later,” Baird said. “I did it specifically because we had so many kids involved in so many things, and we did so many programs that I wanted to class for those folks to be able to get some stuff done and learn some lessons where they did it.”
For many years, students like Miley Moser, a senior at Stockbridge and a first-year leadership student, have seen the effect that Baird can have on students.
“He has inspired me as a teacher because I have seen the energy that he is giving to his students and his community,” Moser said. “ I admire the communication and organization skills that he has and the way that he can connect with people, but most of all, the results you see from his students.”
Baird has always been a cornerstone for the school’s spirit was a motivational individual who provided life tips and experiences to juniors and seniors that passed through his leadership class. Although Baird is still backing leaders and encouraging the energized pep rallies, Baird has stepped down from student councils and passed on the job.
“I’ve started cutting back on my hours spent at the school working, especially since COVID. I’ve realized that I haven’t spent enough time with my family, and I want to change that. I want to be there for my kids as they go through their lives,” Baird said.
Many people would wonder why a teacher would spend this much time and dedication on one town and one high school, but to Baird, there is no measurement for the pride it gives him to see the students he helps succeed in their lives.
“This could be hard for a student to understand the process. I think there are a lot of jobs like this where generally speaking, in society we are quick to critique openly, but not openly praise when we see things we like. You’re not always going to hear, see, or know that you’re making a difference in certain things. But then down the road you run into somebody that you have helped in the past, or they send you something, and then you understand that you have had an impact in their life, and those things keep you going.”
