Sameera Degaulle

Along with teaching AP environmental science, Schunre is the advisor of several WHHS clubs, and is an avid participant in all things WHHS. “I would say the whole school culture is the biggest reason [for staying at WHHS so long],” Schnure said. “The experiences I’ve had with students and with other faculty members and administrators really makes this a cornucopia of really great experiences and [a] wonderful way to help improve yourself and become a better person.”

Will Schnure has been teaching for 36 years, 16 of those at WHHS. While he has made a forever lasting impression on his students and will continue to cherish his time here, all good things must come to an end.

Although Schnure speaks highly of his time as a teacher, it was not his first choice of profession.

“I got my degree in forestry and wildlife management,” Schnure said. “I was planning on going into a career in forestry and being out in the wilderness.” Schnure seemed to have a set career path for himself, but an unexpected change of plans forever altered the course of his life.

“When I got married, my then wife didn’t want [me] to do that, so she talked me into going back to school,” Schnure said. “I ended up at Xavier, getting a degree in biology and then getting my requirements to get a teaching license.”

Regardless of how he ended
up in the profession, being able to foster young minds is an experience that Schnure would not give up for anything.

“My favorite part about teaching is when people come back after a few years telling me that I made a difference in their lives,” Schnure said.

Before coming to WHHS, Schnure taught at a variety of schools within CPS.

Schnure first began his journey with CPS at Cape High School, then made his way over to Gamble Middle School. From there, he briefly attended West High University High School before transferring to Jacobs High School, which closed down in 2007.

“I left Jacobs and went to Dater High School and taught at Dater High School for a number of years,” Schnure said. “Then around
2008, I came here and I’ve been here since.”

By being able to work in CPS, Schnure was able to become exposed to a medley of different cultures and ethnicities. This allowed him to begin seeing things from a different perspective.

“I would like to think [that] just my whole experience in Cincinnati Public [has] made me a better person,” Schnure said. “I grew up in suburbia in what I call a white bubble- with no exposure to the Black community in any way, shape or form. When I went to Gamble… where I was virtually the only white person in the room, it was a culture shock for me.”

After finding himself in a completely different setting than what he was used to, Schnure had to do a bit of self-discovery and find his true purpose in life.

“I had to make a decision on who I was going to be as a human being. I was pretty ignorant in my 20s and I had to decide if I was going to continue on my ignorance, and I decided to stay and make a change,” Schnure said. “One of the changes was to quit trying to force a community to be like me and [instead] try to understand and try to be part of that community, which means sometimes behaving and being like them, because it’s actually their world I’m entering.”

Though it was challenging at times, this period of personal growth and self-discovery was one that Schnure recognizes as pivotal in his life’s journey.

“I feel I’m blessed. I was blessed with a lot of experiences, some of them painful, but I was blessed in the same way I’ve been blessed with a lot of great people who showed me how to be a better person and a better human being,” Schnure said.

Ultimately, the nurturing and inclusive experience provided by WHHS and CPS was one like no other for Schnure and saying goodbye can be bittersweet.

“I am the sum of [the] experience of very generous people who helped me out along the way, professionally [and] socially,” Schnure said. “No one becomes great on their own or becomes a good teacher on their own; you [have] to have someone show you how to do it, and I was blessed to do that for my students.”