   |
 |
Wednesday Evening Weather 6/19/13
Maintenance Man Turns Into Teacher 01/08/13
Jennifer Samp
CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com
January 9, 2013
Odessa, TX - For the past 15 years Gary Dutchover spent his time caring for the New Tech High School building.
“Anything that needed to be repaired or maintained I was going to do it,” Dutchover said.
He says he took the responsibilities as a maintenance man to be closer to his dream job.
“For the longest time, I've always wanted to be a teacher,” he said, “It's been a long road.”
His education lasted a decade because by day Dutchover worked full-time on the high school and by night he went to college.
“My high school days I did not apply myself and that's my biggest regret in my life,” he said.
But now his time spent in the hallways looking in is now in the classroom.
“As a maintenance man I tried to stay invisible, I mean that almost literally,” he said, “Now that had changed.”
“He really teaches us to be more than another person in the crowd,” said freshman Jaden Perez.
“I think he's cooler because he has a different background,” said freshman Jacqueline Inzer.
He inspires me because he comes from a different background like everybody else,” said freshman Hayley Eller, “He want us to make good grade and succeed and be somebody.”
“Throughout life there will be obstacles there's no other way around it, but the worst thing to do is to quit,” he said.
This is Mr. Dutchover's first year as an educator. He teaches freshman geography.
“We all have something to offer,” he said, “Remember it's a wonderful life it really is.”
He says he learned from his past and plans to teach with it.
As walking proof an education gives a promising future.