There’s often a moment in someone’s life that changes it. Usually, it’s not a commercial.

 

Such is the case with long-time Bridgeport High School educator and coach Jon Griffith. Back in the 1980s, Griffith was watching television and nowhere close to the teaching profession when something on the screen caught his eye.

 

“I had the television on when this commercial came on NBC promoting teaching. I believe the theme was ‘The More You Know About Teaching,’ which was aimed at getting people into the teaching field,” said Griffith. “I guess it worked.”

 

It’s worked in spades. Since starting in the classroom in 1989-90, Griffith has spent three-plus decades mentoring students in various fields of education and teaching them. Come January, the run – almost all of it in Bridgeport – will come to an end.

 

Griffith recently announced he is leaving the classroom. With his time in, he’ll be officially retired from the Harrison County teaching field as the New Year begins.

 

Before getting to why he’s leaving, perhaps it’s wise to look back at just how a man who has put in 30-plus years into teaching got his start after viewing that commercial.

 

“I was a chemistry graduate from WVU and didn’t want to go into a lab every day. I thought that teaching would be a good way out, plus I could coach, which was what I wanted to do,” said Griffith.

 

Making a career change wasn’t as simple as turning in his 1984 degree from WVU. It wasn’t as simple as using his job experience from Clarksburg’s old Magic Computers or his own business to get into the classroom. Instead, he went back to Fairmont State to take all the required education courses, student teach and get certified.  

 

In the spring of 1989 he was ready. Griffith student taught at Bridgeport Junior High. At the start of the 1989-90 school year, he was a full-time science teacher at Central Junior high and coaching track at BHS and junior high football at Bridgeport.

 

“That first year was a challenge, and not because I was new or because I was teaching general science or speaking publicly. When you speak to a room full of 8^th grade students it’s not easy to do,” said Griffith. “It turned out pretty well and I enjoyed it. That got me started and I’ve been going ever since.”

 

Griffith had just the one year at Central. He was off to Bridgeport High School and taught chemistry for several years. In fact, he taught until freshman moved into the high school and with no one wanting to teach freshman science, he volunteered and taught that for a handful of years.

 

“I taught that until about 2006 or 2007 and started teaching computer programming and computer information when I replaced Clint Nesler … I volunteered to do that as well,” said Griffith. “(Former Principal) Mr. (Lindy) Bennett allowed me to switch positions both times.”

 

The computer courses, which also feature business computer applications and even earth sciences, are Griffith’s final teaching stops. It’s part of the natural progression he’s taken during his tenure.

 

“It was every eight or nine years I needed a switch because I felt like I was in a rut. Even though it wasn’t always easy, it was nice to go into something different,” said Griffith. “Now, I’ve really got something different.”

 

The decision to retire from teaching was enhanced by time away from the classroom. And it had nothing to do with himself not wanting to be there.

 

“I’ve been contemplating this for a couple of years now. I thought it was going to be teaching longer until I took 12 weeks of family medical leave with my wife having knee surgery,” he said. “During the time off, I got used to not going into work every day and liked it.”

 

That, however, didn’t make the process to step down one without challenges.

 

“It’s hard to step away. Whatever you do as a profession tends to be a large part of your life, and that’s the case here,” Griffith said. “This was not an easy decision and it had to financially feasible. Plus, it’s mentally difficult to leave something you are familiar with.”

 

Griffith, it should be noted, isn’t going cold turkey. He’s already applied to be a substitute teacher and work when he feels like working and stay away when he doesn’t.

 

“That’s my plan now, but I’m not ruling anything else out that may come up,” said Griffith.

 

For those wondering, Griffith will be coaching boys track this spring. He will be coaching cross country in 2020.

 

“That was one of the main reasons to teach; to be able to coach,” said Griffith. “I think it will likely be more difficult to step away from coaching. It’s a huge part of my identity and my family.”

 

Griffith’s coaching pre-dates his official time in the classroom. This year will mark his 32^nd season as the BHS boys track coach and he put in time in an unofficial capacity coaching prior to that. He’s now been involved with cross country for 12 years first as an assistant and now as the head coach.

 

Some may forget Griffith spent a trio of years coaching football at BJHS and then 14 years as the freshman coach at the high school. 

 

And yes, there’s been some success as he’s built those programs. He has three state titles in boys’ cross country and two boys track and field state championships.

 

“It’s always been a big deal for me to coach, particularly when you can coach in the same building where you were teaching because it’s a better situation for everyone,” said Griffith. “You see the kids in the school environment and know what they’re doing and supposed to be doing while getting to know them better.

 

“I always felt it created a better respect between myself and the students I coached,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of good kids and I think that classroom interaction has enhanced it.”

 

That leads to the question of how much longer.

 

“After these next two sports seasons, it will be a year by year decision,” said Griffith. “It’s going to be a hard decision to eventually leave coaching, but it’s one that happens to everyone at some point. It’s just hard to leave a kid you’ve coached for a couple of years where you’ve built a relationship with them and their parents and you’re not there to finish it out with them

 

“I have a lot of parents that have asked if I’ll be there to the end of their child’s run, and there’s probably a few ready to see me go,” Griffith joked. “I just know when I leave it will be time to leave.”

 

Editor's Note: Top three photos of Jon Griffith in present and past teaching images and bottom photo of Griffith with his family (Rebecca DeVono Photography) all courtesy of Jon Griffith. Fourth and fifth images of Griffith coaching by www.benqueenphotography.com.