Key West High School teacher Mr. Kremer School’s Out Forever…

Key West High School teacher Mr. Kremer School’s Out Forever… - A man standing in a room - KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Gregory Kremer spent Tuesday morning teaching his last week of class at Key West High School. The soon-to-be retired teacher visited Key West in June 1987 and met Mr. Tommy Roberts and the rest is history. “His spirit and enthusiasm for Key West High School was so impressive that I was here by January of 1988,” said Kremer. “I have been here ever since.”

Raised in Detroit and Philadelphia, Kremer is a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School, John Carroll University for his BA, and University of Akron for his masters.

A teacher of Psychology, AP Psychology, DE Sociology, World Religions, and Philosophy, his last days at the high school included Sigmund Freud to a still intrigued class.

Along with a handful of other teachers, Kremer is one of the most mentioned teachers as “most inspirational” in the Key West High School Student of the Week questionnaires. So, The Weekly wanted to know more about the man behind the door in classroom 204.

Questions:

Nicknames?
If they exist I probably could not write them.

Why did you want to become a teacher?
I believe, like John Dewey and many others, that a good education is fundamental for a strong person and a solid society. I had very good teachers and felt that I could add something. I also believe, as Socrates said, that, “the unexamined life is not worth living.”

Your students are often inspired by your “practical life advice.” Tell us more.
Education is supposed to teach people new perspectives and how to think. This generation needs to be A LOT SMARTER than we are. There are many boundaries being crossed rapidly and for the first time. They need to think and create. They also need to decide the future for all of us.

You are retiring this week after 40 years of teaching; what’s first on your to-do list?
Chase my dream and continue traveling the world.

What is the most rewarding experience being a teacher?
Amos Alonzo Stagg when asked what he thought of his football team that year told the reporter to come back in 20 years and he would see what kind of men they were then. I have been here 30 years, and every day I see them leading our community. I am proud of my students and I take pleasure in their accomplishments.

What’s your best advice you ever received?
Work hard and good things will happen.

Dream meal: you are sitting at a diner counter eating…who walks in and sits next to you?
Mohandas Gandhi. I would love to experience the power of his personality and hear his wisdom.

Favorite Keysy thing to do?
Boat, fish, dive, and ride my bicycle all year long.

What would your superpower be?
Compassion.

What is your nerdiest passion?
Reading history.

If you could take one item on a deserted island, what?
My Swiss Army Knife.

What was your first thought this morning?
How to make this day a good one.

Favorite guilty pleasure?
A good cigar with my morning coffee.

If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you do/buy?
An around the world first class cruise package.

If you could change the world, what would you do?
Have one World Government, one common language along with the native language, and one common currency.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to?
Prague, Paris, Seville, and Medellin (where I am going to live for the next year).

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A U.S. Marine. My father, a WWII vet, filled me with respect for these soldiers.

Finish these sentences…

My students would describe me as…INTENSE.

My autobiography would be titled…FOLLOW THE PATH WITH HEART.

Key West is…HOME TO ME.

I live by the motto…DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DO UNTO YOU.

Kristen Livengood is a Marathon High School and University of South Florida grad, mom of two beautiful little girls, and wife to some cute guy she met in a bar. She enjoys red wine, Tito's, Jameson, running (very, very slowly), and spearfishing.