The stadium lights shine brightly down on Carstens Field as the DGN football team prepares to take on its next opponent. A familiar voice booms over the speakers, “Welcome to Carstens Field, home of the Trojans.” On the sideline, another familiar face warms up the defensive players, preparing them for a tough matchup. Since retirement, former science department chairperson Mike Heinz and former science teacher Chris Guerrieri have remained heavily involved in the DGN community.

Heinz worked for 14 years as the DGN science department chairperson, teaching chemistry and leading the IWILL club. In the past, Heinz has been a chaperone on school trips, including four trips to Costa Rica and a tour of Europe. Continuing his love for travel, Heinz went to Tokyo, Japan, with math students and to cities in Italy with his wife and former DGN parents.

“Japan was exquisite,” Heinz said. “And in Italy, we did Venice, Florence, Rome, and Sorrento. The neat thing about that was we got to know adults; two sets of them were parents of students from North that traveled with me to Costa Rica.”

Heinz has continued to stay connected at DGN by substituting for classes and announcing football games. According to Heinz, the fun and informal interactions between students and colleagues are what keep him coming back. His favorite part of retirement so far has been the freedom in his schedule, allowing him to do more around DGN.

“I’ve never really been one to sit still and relax,” Heinz said. “I get to do what I want to do, when I want to do it.”

Students at DGN remember Heinz’s energy and enthusiasm he brought to every class and continues to bring when subbing. Senior Ethan Houlihan had Heinz his sophomore year for chemistry and said Heinz’s energy changed the way he viewed learning.

“I would look forward to his class every day,” Houlihan said. “The energy he brought to class was what made it so fun.”

Guerrieri worked all 33 years of his career at DGN, teaching biology and anatomy, and coaching football on the sophomore and varsity levels. Additionally, Guerrieri worked as the coach and sponsor for the bass fishing club, a hobby he continues in retirement. Guerrieri has remained connected to DGN by coaching football and substitute teaching. According to Guerrieri, the energy that fills the halls of DGN keeps him coming back. His favorite part of school is the students and the unique perspective everyone brings.

“The students themselves, I enjoy being around the students,” Guerrieri said. “That’s what keeps teachers going anyway.”

Students left Guerrieri’s class with a love of science and a better understanding of how what they were learning translated into the real world. Senior Adriana Marsicano had Guerrieri for biology freshman year and anatomy junior year. Marsicano plans to pursue a career in nursing after college and said Guerrieri’s classes had a significant impact on her choice.

“He knew that I wanted to go into the medical field, and so did a lot of other students,” Marsicano said. “He catered the anatomy class a little more towards that.”

Aside from the students, Guerrieri also claims that the colleagues, both as friends and professionals, who surrounded him are what made his 33 years at DGN so special.

“DGN, as a professional teacher, pushes you to be your very best,” Guerrieri said. “There’s not a teacher in this school that actually doesn’t try to get better or keep perfecting their craft.”

Jeff Grant, science teacher and colleague of both Heinz and Guerrieri, said working alongside them provided him with new perspectives on teaching. and they became more than just colleagues.

“It’s not just working with somebody, it’s actually a friendship,” Grant said.