PCC Geography: Mr. Lee

Hat's Off to Prof. Mark Hayden

Sep 03, 2006

June 2006 marked the end of Prof. Mark Hayden?’s 30 years of dedicated to service to the students and community of Pasadena City College (PCC). Prof. Hayden serviced the college at numerous locations and culminated his career at the Pasadena City College Community Education Center (CEC).

?“Many other people have known Prof. Hayden much longer than I have,?” commented Prof. Gregory Lee of the PCC Geography Department. ?“I first met him about 15 years or so ago when he was coordinating the design and construction of the CEC. Over the years, he and I have collaborated on a number of innovative educational projects. We organized the RealWeather conference to bring advanced hands-on weather science training to K-12 teachers in the San Gabriel Valley. He volunteered to serve on the board of Earth Systems Science, Inc. (ESSI) when I co-founded it in 2002. When my wife and I shifted our energies from ESSI to create the Rural Training Center-Thailand (RTC-TH), he volunteered as a science and technology advisor.?”

?“Mark can be characterized as a truly professional educator. Teaching is not merely a way of life. It is his life, through and through. When funding was not available for class supplies, he dug into his own pocket and paid without hesitation. You can?’t do that without the unwavering support of your spouse and family. Every dollar he put toward his classes meant a dollar less for his own family. His wife also works in education and is just as dedicated to her students and work. Their children know the true meaning and value of education and stand united with their parents.?”

?“In earlier days, Mark?’s work took him into the field with youth programs in various states. This was not just a summer job; it was also a family affair. So his family also got an outdoor education along with the students. This shows you how ?“seamless?” the teaching was as he moved from the classroom in one state and school to the outdoors in another state.?”

?“I admire Mark for his dedication, professionalism, and integrity. Where many others might have given up from frustration and fatigue, he steadfastly endured and served his students. A few years ago, he suffered a heart attack over the summer. I was overseas at the time and unaware of how close I came to lose a dear friend. The speedy response of paramedics saved his life. And with a new lease on life, he returned to teaching?…just a dedicated and hard working as before, but ever mindful of the brush he had with death. We often spoke about our profession, our individual careers, the ups and downs in our lives, and personal and professional philosophies, and gained new insights and perspectives of each other and ourselves.?”

?“His retirement is well-deserved. But unlike many others, retirement for Mark will not mean kicking back and relaxing. For a professional educator, life is all about caring, sharing, nurturing, and empowering others to develop and grow. It may seem ironic, but ?“relaxing?” for dedicated teachers such as Mark means learning and growing at the same time as caring, sharing, nurturing, and empowering. A year or so before retirement, he launched the Glendora Emergency Response Communication (GERC). This involves teaching people about amateur radio and disaster preparedness. It is the perfect venue for this professional educator to remain an active and innovative force in the community contributing to the well-being of people.?”

?“Mark has been and continues to be an inspiration to me. I am honored and privileged that he considers me to be a friend. Life is a challenge, and no one has it easy. But with true friends such as Mark Hayden in my life, things tend to be much nicer. His retirement only means the start of a new chapter in an on-going adventure where he can teach without worrying about grading papers, staff meetings, etc. Now he can truly focus on the students and the learning where their proficiency will be demonstrated in real-time and real life.?”

---G.K. Lee, PCC Geography Dept.