By Kiana Caranto

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After five years of teaching at MHS, Math teacher Chris Cordell is making a push to expand his knowledge of Hawaii’s education system by becoming a vice principal at one of Central district’s elementary schools, going into effect next year.

“I love working in schools but I’ve decided that I want to see the other side, I want to see how school leadership works. I think for a successful school like (MHS), we depend on its leaders for a lot of things and I want to be one of those people,” said Cordell.

Throughout intermediate and high school, Cordell was a struggling math student inspired by his math teachers who helped him understand. He took this idea and carried it all the way to college, aspiring to be like the math teachers he remembered. “I hit college and I knew I liked working with kids and it was just a passion, it’s a calling. Teachers don’t do it for the money,” said Cordell.

After working within the same profession for six years, Cordell will take the skills he’s acquired here at MHS and apply them to his work as a vice principal. “He tries to listen to different people’s perspectives before making decisions. He’s pretty open-minded. He wants what’s in the best interests of the kids and I think he’ll definitely use those skills when he gets to be a VP,” said Math teacher and close friend Patrick Riehle.

Along with his knowledge about teaching and his professional skills, Cordell will also carry with him the memories he’s made during his time at MHS. “I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience and the support I’ve gotten from everyone, including colleagues and the type of kids that we get,” he said.

Cordell has largely impacted MHS’ math department during his time as a teacher and will be greatly missed among the students and staff he’s worked with throughout the years. “I mean it’s gonna be weird having somebody else next door next year. I’ll miss him a lot,” said Riehle. His influence on students has been so apparent that he has been dubbed by many students one of the best teachers at MHS. “Overall he’s a really good person. He never judges anyone, maybe he’ll crack a joke or two about someone, but not in the harsh way. You can say caring, he’s really caring towards everyone,” said Junior Cyrus Iwaki-Yokoyama, “He’s really chill and he’s probably one of the coolest teachers in this school. Because as I said before he’s super relatable.”

Cordell will be placed in an elementary school due to the Department of Education’s desire for teachers and faculty to be versatile at all levels which will present many changes within his profession and lifestyle. “I’m gonna miss the face-to-face interaction with the students. I’m gonna miss the people that work here,” said Cordell, “I feel anxious. I feel nervous. I feel excited all in three.”

Cordell hopes to become an educational leader who has an impact on education in Hawaii and to apply the skills he’s gained during his time at MHS to his future endeavors.