Name to a Face: Kerry Sacry: Math Teach Extraordinaire

Editor's Note: This year the Whitehall School District is losing several well-known and loved staff. For the next few weeks the Name to a Face column will be dedicated to those who will no longer be gracing the hallways of WHS/WMS/WES next semester. We wish them all the best in their retirement!

He's taught every form of math available in the Whitehall School system, as well as coached nearly every sport, and now, in 2021, Kerry Sacry is ready for his next adventure: retirement.

Sacry spent sixteen years working in software engineering before he made the transition to teaching, one that came a bit out of nowhere. Already equipped with a math degree and a teaching certificate while working in software, he realized he wanted to stay close to home and not drive as much. When a math teaching position became available in Whitehall, he applied, and six months later he dove into the rest of his professional career. Sacry has been the face behind nearly every math class for the last sixteen years, from upper calculus, pre-calculus, geometry and algebra - he has taught it all.

"It's like solving a puzzle to me - it's a game, a game to get from Point A to Point B and I really enjoy that," Sacry said.

Sacry's entire teaching career has been in Whitehall. When not teaching numbers he was teaching tennis, basketball and more out of the classroom. Several of his former students have gone on to become math teachers themselves.

"It's funny, because sometimes you just don't see it when they are in your classroom. Then when they become a teacher, it clicks, oh yeah - I see it now."

Sacry noticed during his tenure that kids aren't valuing school as much as they used to. "We need to hone into what kids need to keep them interested," he said. "The way kids learn now is so different than it was 5, even 10, years ago. All they have to do is say "Hey, Siri" and get the answer to every question they have. I'm not sure, as teachers, we've adjusted for that yet. Sacry also noted that the "teaching part" was the best part of his career, whereas the admin part "wears on you."

Sacry is a Whitehall native who, save for his educational years in Kansas City and Iowa, has spent his life in Whitehall. With his wife, Karen, the couple share three children - twin daughters Krista and Keeley, and son Keegan. Krista is a dentist, Keeley an optometrist, and Keegan an electrical engineer. Sacry is looking forward to more time with family, as his children currently live out of state in Portland, Oregon.

Sacry is also excited that his retirement will bring him time to focus on his original passion of software engineering. He also plans to focus some time on his curling strategy.

When you see Kerry out and about in town, please remember to thank him for the many years of education he gave our Whitehall Trojans. We appreciate you, Kerry!