Psychology teacher Ed Tolin will be retiring after 44 years.

Mr. Tolin attended Highland Park High School. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Washburn University and further his teaching abilities at Emporia State University and Kansas State University.

“That’s what I wanted to do–teach psychology,” he says.

Mr. Tolin taught his first five years at Highland Park Junior High School. There he taught physical education and health. He also coached football, basketball, tumbling and track.

The next two years of his career involved working at Northern Hills, now known as Seaman Middle School. At the middle school he coached football, basketball and track.

After Northern Hills, Mr. Tolin moved on to teach at Seaman High School. He was hired as the head boys basketball coach.

At Seaman High he also helped coach football and the boys tennis team.

Since he has been here, he has taught psychology, career education and physical dimensions.

Mr. Tolin has been working part time the past 10 years. When he is not at school he attends to his farm.

After retiring, he wants to spend more time at his farm and will hopefully have more time to go hunting.

“We will probably expand our farming operation,” he says.

Considering Mr. Tolin has been part time for 10 years, he has already had a taste of retirement.

He has traveled with his wife over time, but he says, “Everything we have is right here.”

Mr. Tolin will miss interacting with his students the most.

“You kids keep us young. I’m continuing to get old, but the kids keep us thinking younger,” he says.

Also, he will miss seeing the staff, which have become his closest friends. He hates to give that up because it is hard to do.

This year will be Mr. Tolin’s 44th year teaching, his 39th in the Seaman district.

“This is the best place there is to teach,” Mr. Tolin says.