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Hopwood teacher shares passion for marching
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Posted on Nov 14 2008
Louie Wabol loves marching so much he’s given up his retirement for it.
Wabol, a physical education teacher at Hopwood Jr. High School, has consistently returned to the school as a volunteer or substitute teacher to teach students proper marching, despite retiring as a full-time teacher in 2005.
Yesterday was his last day as a substitute teacher for the year at HJHS. As a sub, he can only teach for 60 days a year, a milestone he has already reached this school year because he worked on holidays and weekends. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be right back at the school next week as a volunteer.
“My profession, it’s part of me,” he said.
Wabol first discovered marching as a platoon leader.
“I learned it was an art,” he said.
He has since taught that art to students over the years.
“I thought it was important because it’s a prerequisite for ROTC, so when they exit [junior high] they use it a lot,” he said, adding that former students returning from service come up to him and tell him how much they appreciate the skills he taught them.
Marching is like dancing, said Wabol, who has created his own marching commands.
“I’ve thrown tap dancing in there,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”
He said students are more inclined to exercise when they are having fun.
“It motivates them. When you sing and march they feel special. They’re excited,” he added.
Since 1989, Wabol has selected students to take part in a drill team. They perform at Islandwide parades, like the July 4th Liberation Day parade, he said.
Wabol is training advanced students how to give commands, but that doesn’t mean he’s leaving.
“Whether I retire or it’s a part time job, I always return,” he said.
“I just don’t want to see it die,” he added.
Frank Angel, a fellow PE teacher at Hopwood, said Wabol is a dedicated and motivated teacher.
“He loves his job. He inspires a lot of students to work at their best,” Angel said.
