0
0
It takes a lot to put your life on the line, especially after you’ve been injured. Greg Dettinger, one of the new teachers at NS this year, has done it twice before becoming a teacher.
With the DLI program (Dual Immersion Program) making it to the high school and Felipe Gonzales being moved out of the bilingual school liaison and into computer science, NS had a big spot to fill.
In a near-perfect situation, Dettinger is able to perform the duties of the Bilingual School Liaison and teaches the DLI program. In addition, he teaches two classes: ESL language arts for kids who need extra learning in that field and AP Spanish for college credit. His multiple years of experience have given him all the tools he needs to do these things. But how did he get them?
Dettinger was born and raised in San Bernardino in the late 1950’s and started working “unofficially” at age 14 and was working full time by the age of 16. Though he still went to school, he learned at a young age to be a hard worker.
Dettinger graduated with honors and was drum major of his high school band. However, he was always working instead of being at school. The reason for this being the amount of violence at school because of the Watts riots in the area at the same time.
“Even though I have a lot of good memories, a lot of high school was fear and terror,” Dettinger said.
After he graduated, Dettinger was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, a year and a half later, he served a mission for the church in Puerto Rico.
When he got back, he immediately enrolled at BYU where he met his wife. After dating all that summer and long-distance dating while he was at BYU, she agreed to marry him.
At that same time, the criminal Justice major at BYU was shut down to make room for a bigger business program, so he joined the Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist.
After a few years, he was hired to the California Highway Patrol, where he finished his criminal Justice degree and, being bilingual, he became an expert on gangs and other related things.
After getting injured a second time in the line of duty, he was medically retired. That’s when Dettinger decided to go into education. He has now been in education for 29 years.
“Instead of having to arrest gangbangers and take them to jail, maybe I could catch them before they make those decisions,” Dettinger said
After teaching in California for a few years, he moved to Manti where he taught English, Spanish, and journalism for 15 years. Six of his seven children graduated from Manti at during that time.
After moving away for some time and serving as a principal for three different school districts, he got burned out. He wanted back into the classroom but wasn’t finding any success.
“No one would hire me because I was too expensive with all my degrees and experience,” Dettinger said.
But one day, a friend told Dettinger of a position back in Sanpete at NS. With his youngest son wanting to graduate at Manti like the rest of his siblings, Dettinger jumped at the chance and was hired for his experience and one other reason.
“As we interviewed him, what stood out to me is that you could tell how much he cares about kids,” Principal Christine Straatman said.
Dettinger has enjoyed his time here at NS and being in the classroom again. What he admires about NS is the staff.
“I’ve been a part of seven high schools in my career as either a teacher or a principal and I’ve never seen a staff that gets along so well and supports each other,” Dettinger said.
Teaching isn’t the only thing he did at Sanpete when he was here last, he also started his own video company and served as one of three county commissioners in 2001. He knows many of the students here based on their parents.
Sanpete is home to Dettinger, as well as his oldest son Jake Dettinger, who now serves as the director of finances at Snow College.
“It’s been nice being able to have them support my kids,” Jake Dettinger said.
Dettinger is glad to be here near family and in a classroom where he can finally be in his element and show what teaching means to him.
“To me, all it’s really about is trying to make a difference,” Dettinger said.
