Alaina Platero
Mr. Hilarides in his history classroom
Clarkston Junior High is home to countless great teachers; Albert Hilarides is one of many, and he works hard to teach freshmen students the importance of our nation’s history. Mr. Hilarides has been working in Clarkston since 2018.
Mr. Hilarides originally wanted to be a band director; however, with the amount of practice needed for the job, he decided he’d prefer being a history teacher. He has always had a passion for history and enjoys working with the students.
“I was always really good at history in high school, and once I started the classes, I really enjoyed it and it just kind of took off from there,” Hilarides said.
Mr. Hilarides grew up in Western Michigan, but was looking for job opportunities near the east side after he got married. He was in Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup when he began looking for job interviews.
“This one was offered to me, and it felt right; it really reminds me of my hometown. It’s got a small-town feel but also has the amenities that you would like to have in a larger area,” Hilarides said.
His typical school day begins by getting to school around 7 o’clock and ensuring the materials and papers needed for the day are ready. He checks in with the other history teachers and gets his classroom ready for the students by playing music. During class, he makes the difficult assignments understandable and creates a relaxing work environment.
In the late school year, he coaches the boys’ golf team, which is very difficult to balance with being a teacher. Since he is often gone on Mondays and Fridays from April forward, he explained, “I have to be really dependent on making sure that I create a good culture in my class up to that point, that way if I am gone, I know that everybody not only knows what they’re going to do, but is willing to do it because we have a good relationship.”
His favorite part about being a teacher is the connections from the past, telling historical stories, and being around students every day. Mr. Hilarides will always have an impact on his students and leave a long-lasting impression on Clarkston Junior High School.