To discuss retirement with Dennis Mann is to hardly discuss it at all. After 36 years of teaching at Hanford High School, Mann would much rather boast about his students.

"One of my biggest rewards has been watching them discover skills and abilities they didn't know they had," Mann said. "I've had so many wonderful years as a teacher."

Mann, who will be 61 in September, taught ag mechanics and was also the advisor for Future Farmers of America or FFA.

Under Mann's supervision, Hanford High had 25 FFA state champion teams in entomology, meats and agronomy.

They also had two national champion teams who brought home, in total, eight gold medals, three silver and rank No. 1in California for state and national winning competitive teams.

"They're among the best," Mann said. "We have quite the reputation."

Among his many accomplishments as an educator, including recieving a 2009 Teachers Of Excellance Award from the California Ag Teachers' Association, Mann feels the most important are those that directly affected his students.

"My philosophy is that teachers provide students with tools to empower and equip themselves for the future. I chose to teach because there is something deeply rewarding in helping students make sense of themselves and find where they fit in this ever-changing world."

Mann said that although he cherishes his role as a teacher, it's time to try something different and turn the page on another chapter of life.

"I love to ride my Harley and love to fish," Mann said. "My wife and I also plan on doing some traveling."

Although Mann looks forward to having more time for hobbies, he said he is sad to be leaving the career he devoted himself to for so long.

"It's been a really tough decision for me; I love what I'm doing."

Mann's wife, Linda, who recently retired from teaching as well, says that because of his devotion to his students and to his life as a teacher, he spent many sleepless nights before deciding to retire.

"He went three weeks, probably only sleeping one to three hours a night, just wrestling with the decision," she said. "What he does, it's not just teaching a class, he makes it real and teaches them life skills."

Since he spent almost 40 years in education it's hard to believe that Mann didn't necessarily want to go into teaching at first.

"I knew I wanted to do something in agriculture, but I always envisioned myself out in the field. After getting my bachelor's [degree], ag education came and talked to me and told me they thought I would be a good candidate for becoming an ag teacher; after that I entered the fifth-year teaching program and the rest is history."

Even though Mann will retire at the end of the summer, he said that won't stop him from keeping in contact with his students.

"Students still come to my house and visit with my wife and I and keep us up to date with their lives," Mann said. "They all fill me with pride at their work ethic and contributions they are making in their community."

One such former student, Bryce Borges, referred to Mann as not only a mentor, but a friend.

"Going through all of school and into college, he was, without a doubt, the one that had the  most impact on my life," Borges said. "Without his guidance I don't know that I would be doing what I am today."

After graduating from high school in 2004, Borges went on to study agriculture at Fresno State University and is now a pest controller, a profession dealing with agronomy (the FFA team he was on in high school.)

"He taught me a trade that I made into a career."

Another student who hasn't forgotten Mann is Megan Giacomazzi.

Giacomazzi was also on Mann's agronomy team and was his teacher's assistant for both her freshman and sophomore years.

"He was a very influential person in my life and helped influence me in the major I chose at Cal Poly."

Giacomazzi studied crop science, and like Borges, said that without Mann she isn't sure what she would be doing now.

"He was a teacher that really wanted us to succeed -- he pushed us," she said.

Mann has not only impacted his students, but also everyone else that extends from them.

Cheryl Hunt, Hanford High's principal, refereed to Mann as a "dear friend" and said she is so grateful for the many years he put into the community of Hanford.

"He is so dedicated and they will be hard shoes to fill," she said. "He's a wonderful man and we're so sad to see him go."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(June 29, 2009)