Same House, Same Hallways: Siblings On Staff

Anderson High School faculty includes several sets of sibling staff members

Time Magazine revealed that by the time an individual reaches age eleven, thirty-three percent of their free time is devoted to their sibling. Relationships established between siblings at a young age often carry into adulthood, and if the bond is strong enough, it may even result in sharing a workplace. In fact, Anderson High School has brought in multiple sets of siblings, all working under the same roof. 

Mrs. Orick, a biology teacher at Anderson, and her sister, Mrs. Gans, an administrative assistant, are two sisters who both share the same passion: education. While their relationship has remained the same inside and outside of school, they are able to spend more quality time with each other.

“We have lunch together every day here. We talk every day, all-day, almost,” Gans said.

This set of sisters enjoys working together and helping each other out. In the mornings when Gans needs help getting her kids to school, Orick will allow them to hang out in her classroom until they can get to where they need to be. 

“I think [having a sibling at work] is great!” Gans said.

They aren’t the only sibling duo roaming the Anderson halls. Chemistry teacher Mr. Good has taken full advantage of working with his younger sister, Mrs. Donohue, another administrative assistant. Together, they both help plan the spring Academic Pep Rally, along with hanging out at work during their free time. Outside of school, they enjoy attending Reds games together and going to opening day every year. They also have one other sister, in between them in age, who teaches elementary school in Columbus, Ohio. A passion for education is evident in their family. 

“It’s funny when she’ll buzz in [my classroom] every now and then when I forget my attendance,” Good said.

Anderson High School doesn’t house the only siblings in the district: Mr. Jeff Granger, a chemistry teacher at Anderson, has a younger brother, Mr. Brett Granger, who also teaches chemistry at Turpin. 

“We’ve always joked about one day switching it up. I show up to Turpin, and he shows up to Anderson, just acting like nothing is different at all,” J. Granger said. 

As if having the same name and teaching the same subject wasn’t enough, both brothers attended Ohio University for their undergraduate degrees, both studying education.

“My brother is kind of like my shadow. Anything that I do, he’s going to do anyway,” J. Granger joked.

The brothers often check up with one another to see what’s going on in each other's classes across the two schools. When the younger Granger first started teaching, the older Granger shared some of his techniques and ideas with him to get him started. 

“If you have a bad day or something, you know that your person is there [and they] have your back,” Donohue said.