With the end of the school year approaching, most people are looking forward to summer break before they have to return in the fall. However, this year there is a more bittersweet feeling because two of Berkley’s beloved teachers are retiring. Mr. Bebeau and Mr. Waldman are both wrapping up their final year teaching at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
Mr. Bebeau teaches French at BHS and is currently the school’s only French teacher, teaching French 1, 2, 3, and AP. He has been working at Berkley for 16 years and has taught French the entire time. His favorite class to teach is French 3 because of the students and the curriculum. When asked what he is going to miss most about working at BHS, he responded, “The students and all the relationships I built with them.”
Sophomore Lev Babcock, a student in French 3, said, “Mr. Bebeau is my favorite teacher I’ve ever had. He’s really funny, and he made me enjoy a class that I didn’t think I would enjoy as much.” Babcock also explained that he loves how Mr. Bebeau makes the class personalized, so it is easier for him and others to learn and understand the language.
A sophomore in AP French, Yolihuani Dietachmayr-Gonzalez, said, “Through his teaching style, I’ve made a lot of good memories, and he taught me that you have to work hard in order to succeed.” She also agreed that Mr. Bebeau is funny, and she loves the games he has them play.
“I think my favorite memory of him is when we were all playing cards together, and we were having a lot of fun,” Dietachmayr-Gonzalez said.
Students aren’t the only ones Mr. Bebeau has made an impact on. Mrs. Serrato, an art teacher at BHS who has been across the hall for three years now, explained that he has been a sort of mentor for her. “I’m going to miss gossiping with him every day, and he gives me chocolates,” she said.
Mrs. Serrato also explained that he is like a dad to her. “Whenever I have questions, especially about staff meetings, I run straight to him, and he always answers them. He reminds me of my dad.”
She also agreed that he is funny and makes her laugh all the time. “One of my favorite recent memories is when he wore cowboy boots to school, and I saw him dancing alone in his room. It made me laugh so hard, and I am going to miss moments like that.”
While he will miss being at Berkley, Mr. Bebeau is looking forward to the new free time he will have in retirement. “I’m excited to travel whenever I want, and I won’t have to worry about going during school breaks when everything is more expensive,” he explained.
Mr. Bebeau has made a big impact on both students and teachers at Berkley. Whether it is with his jokes, stories about his time in the military, or offering support, he is someone who is relied on and will be missed at the school.
On the opposite side of BHS, Mr. Waldman is a Social Studies teacher. This year, he is teaching Experiential Ed, Practical Law, Sociology, and Academic Strategies. He has been working at BHS for 31 years and also coaches girls’ tennis. He said his favorite class to teach is Experiential Ed because he was the one who introduced it to Berkley, and it is a very fun, lighthearted class where students get to team-build and push their thinking in different directions.
When asked what he is going to miss most about working at BHS, he responded that he is going to miss everything, but mostly the students and school culture. “It’s gonna be really hard because I went to high school here too, so this has been my life.”
Katelin Sills, a senior in Experiential Ed and Practical Law, said, “Mr. Waldman is always happy and brings good vibes, and since I have him for first hour, he makes me very eager to start the day.” Sills further explained that he’s taught her perseverance and to believe in herself. “He’s left a very big impact on me, and he will definitely be missed,” she said.
His students aren’t the only ones he’s taught to believe in themselves, though. Sophomore tennis player, Grace Burnham, said, “I’ve learned from him to always try your best and don’t give up.” She also explained that he has a positive attitude that has helped make tennis a more enjoyable experience for her. “He was really excited when I got second place at regionals and qualified for states, and I’m gonna miss how he treats everyone with so much kindness,” said Burnham.
The impact he has had on the kids as a teacher and coach is significant, but he has also made a huge impact as a coworker. Mr. Petrous, another social studies teacher at Berkley, has been working with Mr. Waldman for 23 years, and when Mr. Petrous was a student teacher at BHS, Mr. Waldman was his mentor teacher.
“He conducts himself as such a supportive and approachable person to the students, so a big way of how I try to present myself to the kids came from watching him,” Mr. Petrous explained.
Mr. Petrous’s favorite memory of Mr. Waldman was when he was a student teacher, and he and Mr. Waldman ran a stock market simulator with the students.
“It was a lot of fun, and we still talk about it to this day,” he said. Mr. Petrous also said that they’re both “stock market watchers”. He continued, “Whenever something happens in the stock market, he stops in, or I’ll stop at his, and we’ll talk about it.” “We’ve known each other for a long time, and I’m gonna miss him being here a lot,” he added.
Even though he is going to miss being at Berkley, Mr. Waldman said that he is looking forward to the new adventures retirement will bring, including moving to Arizona. “I’m excited for the new opportunities to do things that I may not have had time to do now, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I will miss teaching more than anything,” he explained.
Mr. Waldman has brought a lot to BHS for many years, whether it was new classes, positive attitudes, or someone to talk about the stock market with; the impact he has made will be felt well after he leaves.
Mr. Bebeau and Mr. Waldman have contributed greatly to the school community at Berkley. Both the students and teachers view them as mentors and people they can turn to for support. They will be missed at the school, and even though this is their last year at Berkley, the impact they have left will be felt for years to come.
