This week, social studies teacher Dustin Stinnett announced to his students that he will be resigning at the end of the the 2014-15 school year.

Stinnett came to this decision when his wife purchased a dental practice and both realized that they were becoming too busy.

“[My wife] provides dental care for kids and … also is running a business at the same time, and it’s too much for one person to do, while she still wants to be a mom,” Stinnett said. “So, I decided that it was best for me to step away and run the business side of things out of her practice so she can focus on dentistry and then we can both focus on being good parents.”

Stinnett, who has been teaching at the school for eight years, will miss the advancement he sees in his current and former students the most.

“You come in and you see kids who don’t have confidence or who have struggles and then [watch] them grow up … really pursue being successful … find confidence and find their way and make future plans,” Stinnett said.

For three years, Stinnett has been working on creating an AP European History class. Although he will no longer be teaching the class, Stinnett stresses the importance of the hard-fought course.

“I was really excited for it [and] … from what I understand they are going to continue with it,” Stinnett said. “It’s a good course. Regardless of whose teaching it, it’s a valuable course for students and a good opportunity.”

Although Stinnett has no knowledge of who will be teaching the course or replacing him, he hopes the new teacher has the same qualities that most successful teachers have.

“[The teacher needs to] genuinely care about the students,” Stinnett said. “Someone that care more about students than they do the content, and that is about all you can ask for.”

Social studies teacher Jeff Strickland has been teaching in the classroom next to Stinnett since he began teaching. Although both will still coach baseball together, Strickland will miss teaching next to Stinnett every day.

“[I will miss] that I know there is a professional that’s going to do his best every day, that he is going to be there on time and he is going to teach kids and take care of what he is supposed to be doing,” Strickland said. “[I will also miss] his smile and his charming sense of humor.”

Stinnett may have no concrete plans for the future, but he will be happy to return to the school once he is available to.

“I love teaching. I couldn’t see … finding a position at a school that would be anything better than Mill Valley High School. I genuinely love it here,” Stinnett said. “My future plans are … to help [my wife] and then we will make decisions as they come.”