Dave Szczygiel began his journey with AAPS as a kindergartener at Wines Elementary Now he’s set to retire on June 30 after helping thousands of students discover the wonder of nature.
For 63 years, the AAPS Environmental Education Program has educated AAPS students about the natural environment by taking them on field trips that enhance classroom curriculum. Dave Szczygiel has been a big part of the program for the last 28 of those years, and always said he has one of the best jobs in the district. Now that he’s set to retire on June 30, Szczygiel reflects on his years in the district, starting with kindergarten at Wines Elementary.
Current position with AAPS: Environmental Education Consultant—until retirement June 30.
AAPS schools you attended: Wines, Forsythe, Pioneer.
Favorite AAPS teachers, and why: Pioneer music teacher Lou Smith! I admired him so much. I’m so lucky to have gotten exposure to such great people and teachers in Ann Arbor. Lou is hands down my favorite and most memorable of all my teachers. I spent the most time with him, too, playing in both Concert Band and Jazz Band. I recall a memorable performance at Hill Auditorium with the Forsythe jazz band alongside the University of Michigan jazz band, which Lou conducted. I can still remember the details of that event, complete with the smell of the instruments. He allowed me to grow musically in ways I never dreamed of, he was so down to earth at the same time famous in the jazz world. I was so lucky to enjoy three years in the bands. RIP, Lou.
Favorite high school memory:
Playing with the UM Jazz Band at Hill Auditorium with Lou Smith, Band Camp,
Why did you want to return to AAPS to spend your career:
After failing to get into the worldwide saxophone competition at then UM under Don Sinta, I went to EMU to earn an environmental biology degree, With a teacher shortage in 1985, I decided to get my teaching certificate. I did my student teaching with Laura Caplan at Forsythe and secured a job there in the fall of 1986. I ended up teaching with all my old teachers at Forsythe for one year before being transferred to Clague. What an experience.
How did your years as a student at AAPS affect the teacher you became for AAPS?
I never desired to be a public school teacher until around 1984. My fiance at the time (now wife Meg) told me I would make a great teacher and should get my certification! I thought she was probably right, by 8th grade I was teaching music lessons (piano and organ) at Apollo Music Center on Main Street in Ann Arbor, I was teaching racquetball at the “Y” and was the nature instructor for many summers at Camp Birkett. It seemed I was already becoming a practice teacher with many age groups and topics, so why not make it a career of it? I would say the largest effect of being an AAPS student was it inspired me to learn. I enjoyed going to school. I loved music and science and loved my teachers. Even in my senior year, I took as many classes as I could at Pioneer because I loved learning and respected all of my teachers. At EMU I finally focused on biology, then chemistry and physics and I became a big generalist. I eventually got a Master’s of General Science in 1991. Because I learned to love learning at AAPS, I was actually prepared to be a good general science teacher and an extremely good fit for the Environmental Education Consultant role.
As you get set to retire on June 30, what do you expect to miss:
All the people I see each day. Students, teachers, staff, bus drivers, parents, community members. Each day is full and exciting. Luckily I have a lot of hobbies, but at least I know that if I get bored, I can always become a volunteer naturalist for the EE program!
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