The end of the 2021-22 school year brings the retirement decision of Mr. Rick May, who has been teaching for 40 years. His teaching career has had its ups and downs and after those long 40 years, he has finally decided to pull the plug on it and retire.

“There are many highlights for me being here, but one I cherish is to have Mrs. Dorothy Stone (longtime history teacher) as one of my mentors when I first arrived at Central,” remembered Mr. May. “Although I had 20 plus years of teaching at that time, I still learned much from her.”

May has attained both a bachelor’s of education and master’s degree in curriculum and instruction while also being a part of the college basketball team at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn. He credits his high school coach in Virginia, Roscoe Dean, for inspiring him to become a coach since his career began in 1982 in Kentucky.

Even though May won’t be in the classroom, he still plans on being very busy in the lives of young people.

“I have two beautiful grandsons with another due in August that I need to spend more time with,” he explained.

In the fall of 2020, Mr. May stepped down from his post of coaching the Lady Pounders basketball team which he had directed since 2006. In 2018, he notched the 400th victory of his career by recording wins at both Central, Boyd Buchanan, and Bowling Green, Ky.

May stated that he would miss the class involvement of being a teacher, but knows that learning never stops.

“All of us are continuing to teach even if it’s not in the traditional classroom,” May mentioned.

Over the years Mr. May has taught a variety of U.S. and World History classes, in addition to World Religions.

Although Mr. May’s students were sad to learn he was leaving, they were also happy to have had him as their teacher.

“I have always enjoyed history so that definitely was a part of why I loved his class,” said Mattalyn Mullis, a freshman at Central High School.

One thing Mattalyn liked about Mr. May’s class was the fact that he lets his classwork at their own pace and would even put on music for them.

“It wasn’t fun so much as it was enjoyable; he was an old school type of teacher and his class was very laid back,” she said. “He loves what he does and has a passion for what he teaches.”