By Samantha Coe, Staff Writer
January 18, 2024
ROCKLAND- Rockland High’s slogan “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog” is confirmed by the teachers who are graduates themselves.
Mr. Greg Rowe has been teaching for 23 years at RHS. He teaches World History to freshmen and is teaching a new elective “Leadership Skills for the 21st Century” this year.
Mr. Rowe has been in Rockland since elementary school and went to Esten. Since he studied here, there’s been a couple of changes such as “a new school, the middle school’s attached, but Rockland kids are Rockland kids, they’re awesome” Mr. Rowe said.
Mr. Rowe wasn’t in the same grade as other alumni teachers, but was in high school around the same time as them, including “Casagrande, Liquori, and the whole ‘95 group”.
Mr. Fred Damon was Mr. Rowe’s seventh-grade teacher in his first year of teaching.
“I had Mr. Rowe my very first year of teaching in math. He was a good student, quiet, nice, attentive, polite, and wanted to do well. I can even remember where he sat from my desk. He sat over to the left,” Mr. Damon said.
In high school, Mr. Rowe would describe himself as the “quiet kid dork that didn’t say anything.”
His favorite parts of high school were his friends and the culture of growing up together.
According to Mr. Damon, Mr. Rowe hasn’t changed much from student to teacher. “He’s nice, quiet, easy-going personality. He does a great job with the kids, he’s been a great coach here.”
“The best part about teaching here was knowing Rockland in and out. You knew where kids were from, you knew the families, and what kind of great kids they were. The worst part is when you start teaching very young like I did, they know where you live” said Mr. Rowe.
“It’s always nice when Rockland people come back and work in Rockland, it’s why our school is so unique because of the amount of people that are working here are graduates from Rockland that don’t mind working here and [Mr. Rowe’s] the perfect example.”
Rockland has many alumni teachers including Mr. Matt Anzalone, Mr. Nick Liquori, Mr. Steve Casagrande.
“It’s part of who we are. I think it’s just our way of being connected to the school that gave us so many chances to give back” Mr. Damon said.