download a PDF of this edition - My High School Journalism - HSJ.org

12 The Southfield Jay / October 2009 FEATURES
Roller blading teacher
skates along in life
By Marissa Katz
Staff Writer
The halls quickly empty out as
the last bell of the day rings.
A stray paper here and there
litters the ground and is in an
instant blown away. A tall form
roller blades past, easily twisting and
turning about the papers and through
the halls.
The roller blading teacher is John
Shirkey, who’s often seen dashing from
his classroom to the school library or
main office to complete his business of
the day. He’s a multi-talented teacher on
wheels.
Shirkey has been teaching for 15
years, handling subjects ranging from
architecture to science.
This year he’s teaching computer
animation, drafting, and computer
assisted design (CAD).
Many people may wonder exactly
why he has this interesting mode of
transportation inside the building. His
simple explanation is that the newly
built wing of the school is much too big.
Roller blading, he says, “saves time.”
He is careful not to roller blade when
the halls are full of students. He mostly roller
blades after school or when classes are in
session and the halls are uncrowded.
Ironically, the multi-talented teacher
says he was only an average student
in high school. He was in the Class of
By Michelle Nobles
Staff Writer
Senior James Jordan has landed
the leading role in this year’s fall
play, Terror by Gaslight.
He plays Dr. Cyrus Norton,
a surgeon who is creating an
anatomical museum. But
there’s a piece missing from
his museum - cadavers. The
cadavers he needs can only be
obtained by public gallows.
Co-starring with Jordan
are juniors Stephanie
Gullatte and Michael Love,
who play Gin Hester and Leonard
1973 at Marysville High School. Shirkey
recalls that not all of his teachers were
too fond of him.
But when Shirkey got to college,
that changed, he says. At Wayne
State University, Shirkey maintained
a 3.972 GPA when working toward his
master’s degree. He was also a part of
the Wayne State’s newspaper staff as
a photographer; he says his favorite
assignment was a Stevie Ray Vaughan
concert, which he covered before the
singer died. He also received a certificate
in micro computer applications at
Oakland University.
Shirkey says he started skating
around the age of 10 at McMorran
Auditorium in Port Huron, and according
to him, he proudly says he has not
broken a bone. He has yet to fall while
skating around the halls of Southfield
High School.
Besides roller blading and teaching
a wide variety of subjects, Shirkey
can sing. He sang in the Port Huron
Schubert Male Chorus and now sings in
the Detroit Choir, which he joined last
year. The choir often travels to perform
concerts in other areas, and Shirkey
says he hopes they will travel to Austria
this year.
But the only sure traveling Shirkey
has on his calendar for now is to make
the frequent trek from his classroom to
the school library – on roller blades.
Senior to star in ‘Terror by Gaslight’
Scrubbs, respectively. They are devious
grave robbers who don’t care where
the bodies come from.
According to Drama teacher
Brenda Perryman, the good Dr.
Norton has no idea about his coworkers’
methods, but he will
eventually find out.
A freshman also has a
key role in the this year’s play.
Delando Davis-Wright plays
Detective Harrison.
The play is scheduled
to take place on Nov.
6-7, at 7 p.m. in the
auditorium. Ticket prices
are $5 for students and $7 for adults.
Photo by Marissa Katz
Wheels of fortune: Drafting teacher John Shirkey is known for passing
through school halls on roller blades. He says it saves him time.