After more than three decades of teaching at Norwin High School, Mr. Timothy Lloyd will retire after the 24-25 school year.

As Lloyd prepares to retire after 31 years at Norwin, he reflects on the unexpected path that lead to him teaching here and making the meaningful connections he’s made with the students. From his early plans to become a dentist, to running a scuba shop, then ultimately landing on teaching honors biology, running a scuba club, and being the freshman class advisor. He shares memorable moments from his time at Norwin, his hopes for the future of the science department, and how he wishes to spend his retirement doing barefoot water skiing and scuba diving.

What made you decide to become a biology teacher?

“Originally, I was planning on going to dental school, and I actually went for a year. I already had my biology degree, but I didn’t really enjoy what I was doing in the dental industry, so I decided to go into business for a while. I ran a scuba store for a while, became a scuba instructor, and eventually realized there wasn’t much of a future in that either. It was actually my mother-in-law who suggested that since I enjoyed teaching so much, ‘why don’t you teach biology?’ I hadn’t even thought about that before, but I thought, ‘Hey, that’s not a bad idea.’ That got me into the realm of teaching. Then, I enrolled in the school of education and here the next year.”

Looking back on your 31 years at Norwin High School, what stands out as the most memorable experience?

“Spanning 31 years, there’s been a lifetime of experiences, but I think what stands out the most is just the quality of students I’ve worked with. Really good kids, and especially when they come back for Alumni Day, and I get to see what they’ve accomplished. I’ve had students go on to become physicians, get PhDs, and be all sorts of things. It’s very fulfilling to think that, in some way, I might have had a small role in that. It’s been incredibly rewarding.”

What do you hope your students take away from your class?

“I hope they take away a strong work ethic and the understanding that nothing in life is free. The only way to be successful is to be willing to work for what you want.”

What are your hopes for Norwin’s biology students in the future?

“I hope they maintain the same standards we’ve had throughout my career. My colleagues are very capable, and I know they’ll pick up the torch. I just want to see the students continue to be successful and for Norwin to keep producing quality students.”

What was your favorite part about running the Scuba Club?

“Again, it comes back to the kids. Seeing their excitement when they breathe underwater for the first time, and just watching their faces light up. It’s those moments that are incredible. It’s a little hard to see the excitement through the mask, but you can definitely tell by their eyes. It’s really rewarding to see their enthusiasm.”

What are your hopes for Norwin’s biology students in the future?

“I hope they maintain the same standards we’ve had throughout my career. My colleagues are very capable, and I know they’ll pick up the torch. I just want to see the students continue to be successful and for Norwin to keep producing quality students.”

What will you miss most about Norwin High School?

“I’ll definitely miss the kids and my colleagues. It’s been a great group to work with. The students, especially the ones I work with every day in class, have been awesome. The freshman class is one facet of it, but it’s the everyday interactions I’ll miss the most.”

Now that you are retiring, what do you plan on doing with your time?

I plan on doing a lot more scuba diving and barefoot water skiing. Those are two of my biggest passions. My daughter owns a house now so I’m sure her ‘Daddy List’ is growing, and of course, we have our own list of projects at home. I’ll be staying pretty busy with that.”