Interview by Catrina Meyer

Phoenix: How many years have you been teaching at Pomperaug?

Mr. O’Keefe: I came during midterms in 1986. That’ll be 25.5 at the end of this year.

Phoenix: How has it changed over the years?

Mr. O’Keefe:Well, certainly size. When I first came here there were less than 900 students and certainly less faculty. Looking around the resource area, the reason it was called the resource area was because it was a resource to students. In the middle where all those desks are was the study hall for students and teachers’ desks were on the outside. There were stairs to the library; you could come up to talk to a teacher or down to get a book for the library. Teachers knew the students better. They got rid of stairs first because it was too noisy for the library.

Phoenix: What is your favorite event at Pomperaug?

Mr. O’Keefe: I don’t know if it is an event, but wrestling season is my favorite season. I look forward to the season, coaching the kids. I like the first day of school, it’s always a promise of a new year. I always tell the students, it’s a new year, last year doesn’t matter. We do this activity where I have the students write letters to themselves that they open at the end of the year, like a time capsule. I tell them to write what they want to change about themselves. It’s always a fresh promise.

Phoenix: What is the most important thing that you have learned about teaching in your career?

Mr. O’Keefe: Probably not to take myself too seriously. As much as I like history and I think it is important, not everybody does. I always call my students historians but I know that’s not how they see themselves.

Phoenix: If you could teach another subject, which one would it be?

Mr. O’Keefe: I did teach English in New York at a small school, it was K to 12. I had the opportunity to teach English for one year and a writing class for one year. Well, Criminal Justice was my major, I worked with court home students; they weren’t my students, but I was waiting to be a probation officer. Then I got tired of that side of seeing adolescents. So I decided to go back to school and become a teacher.

Phoenix: If you could have any other job what would it be?

Mr. O’Keefe:I’ve had a lot of jobs. I delivered oil; my family owned a grocery store. I was a janitor in California, a carpenter in Nevada, I painted houses in Connecticut. I would like to be a tour guide in a castle somewhere in England or Ireland, where I could talk about the history there.

Phoenix: What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

Mr. O’Keefe:Well, I have three very small children. Twins Jack and Brigid and a little girl Meghan. Those are my joys right now. When I am not here they take up most of my time.

Phoenix: Where are the coolest place you’ve ever been?

Mr. O’Keefe:The place I think is pretty cool is Ireland, going back and seeing family. We are recent, from the 1920s, we still have family and friends there to be in touch with. I lived in San Diego, that’s a cool place, there is beautiful weather, and the lifestyle is pretty laid back.

Phoenix: What kind of kid were you like in high school?

Mr. O’Keefe:I guess I was the typical student. I liked some subjects and I struggled with others. I was into the sports too; I played football, I wrestled, and I ran track. There was a Varsity club I was a part of and a science (biology) club.

Phoenix: What are your favorite movies?

Mr. O’Keefe: I love the classics. I love It’s A Wonderful Life, I love to watch Casablanca, almost anything with John Wayne in it. Recently the movies I watch are towards G-rated animated cartoons; we’ve seen all the chipmunk movies.

Phoenix: What is you favorite fast food restaurant?

Mr. O’Keefe: It would have to be McDonald’s because that’s what my kids like; you know when my kids want a Happy Meal. We probably have at least 100 Happy Meal toys at my house. I don’t like fast food much myself.

Phoenix: If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Mr. O’Keefe:Flying would be pretty cool.

Phoenix: Who are inspirational figures (famous, family, or friends) that have influenced your life?

Mr. O’Keefe: Well, not so mush an inspiration, the person who has been the greatest influence on me is my father, who actually died quite young. I think about what he would think about and how he would have reacted to things I do.

Phoenix: If you could give advice to PHS students, what would it be?

Mr. O’Keefe:Try to do your best. Try to get along. I always tell the wrestling kids above all else, try to be nice.

Phoenix: If you could make one change to the world, what would it be?

Mr. O’Keefe:Along those lines, we need to be more tolerant to each other, more understanding. The incivility of society had grown so much.