HC’s community loses two to retirement

This week HC loses two of its most beloved and longest serving staff members, counselor Jackie Smith, and US history & political science teacher Dr. Keen Babbage. Both have been part of the faculty and staff at HC for over a decade, achieving milestones and changing the lives of students for the better.

Dr. Keen Babbage

Dr. Babbage has the rare combination of being both a faculty and student Blue Devil. Babbage was the senior class president in 1972, and played on the HC football team. He then worked at multiple educational institutions in Kentucky, accumulating over thirty-one years of experience as a teacher and administrator from middle school to graduate school.

He has been here at HC for 10 years and 15 days. However, much of Babbage’s words will remain at HC—in the library. HC’s book collection includes signed copies of the many books Babbage has written over his long career.

He gives this advice for students and new teachers: “1. Do what is right, 2. Work, 3. Think, 4. Learn, and 5. Be polite.”

Jackie Smith

Smith has been a counselor at HC for almost 10 years. Smith said that she will miss the kids more than anything else, because “That’s what I really enjoyed the most.”

She also says that she will miss her coworkers, who she says, “Have become like family to me.”

Her advice for starting teachers includes obvious knowledge garnered during a long career.

“Communication and relationships are key,” Smith said. “If you develop those, your job becomes so much easier, because you know the students and you know the parents.”

Her closing advice for students shows the transparent love and care Smith has brought to her career.

“Follow your heart and do your best,” Smith said. “Even if it isn’t easy. Things that are worth it aren’t necessarily easy. If it was easy everyone would do it, but education is your ticket to a better life.”