Los Altos Town Crier » Los Altos High teacher bids ‘adieu’ after 38 years of teaching

By Sara Ballenger

$Image from article Los Altos High teacher bids \'adieu\' after 38 years of teaching$
Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

She has taught French, world history, U.S. government and traveled around the world. After 38 years with the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District (MVLAHSD), Janet Mohr is retiring.

“It will really hit me in August,” Mohr said of her retirement. “It’s the first time I haven’t gone back to school in a hundred years,” she said jokingly.

Mohr came to the MVLAHSD from Anchorage, Alaska. She initially came to the area to get her master’s degree in education from Stanford University.

Mohr heard about available teaching positions at Los Altos High School through Leonard Helton, who taught Mohr in high school in Anchorage.

“She was an outstanding student,” said Helton, who began working at Los Altos High School four years before Mohr. “I was recruiting people, especially from Alaska, to benefit Los Altos High School. I told her about the position and her education and good brains got her the job.”

Mohr started out teaching French.

“You walked into her classroom on the first day of school and she only spoke French,” said Delme Fry, who took French from Mohr in the 1963-1964 school year. “The class was an incredible experience. When you went into that classroom, it was like you were in France.”

Mohr also taught Fry’s brother, sister and two daughters. Mohr also began teaching world history, and U.S. government.

“I had her for civics class my senior year,” said Fry’s daughter Josselyn. “She’s willing to go the extra mile to help you if you need it.”

One of the things that Mohr has enjoyed most about teaching is her relationships with students.

“I have always liked working with kids,” Mohr said. “Keeping in touch with young people allows you to see a different world, and to see so much has changed.”

A lot has also changed in MVLAHSD, where Mohr has taught all of her 38 years, but she has been glad to stay.

“I have really enjoyed being a part of the community,” Mohr said. “The district really cares about students, and they have a good staff. It’s been a good run. I don’t regret anything.”

As for her retirement plans, Mohr is unsure.

“I am looking for interesting things to do,” she said. “I love writing and editing, and maybe I will do some substituting.”

It seems Mohr will continue to contribute to the district and its students, to whom she has given so much.