Name: Sam Singer
Years at CHS: 19
Current Position: Middle School Social Studies Teacher

Tell us about your family, including pets.

My wife, Sara, is a social worker with CPS and loves gardening. My son, Theo, is just finishing up his degree in music performance at the University of Eau Claire in Wisconsin. He’s a monster on the sax and is looking forward to starting his musical career. We also have two goldies, Mr. Bojangles (Bo) and Blue.

Where did you grow up?
Ellsworth, WI, the cheese curd capital of the world

What are some of your favorites:
-Movies? The Blues Brothers
-TV shows? The old Twin Peaks… Who killed Laura Palmer???
-Books? The Magus by John Fowles
-Musicians? I like all kinds of music… Elliott Smith, Dylan, Tom Waits, Towns Van Zandt… ultimately, though, I consider Cinderella to be the unheralded rock geniuses of the 20th century.
-Sports or Teams? GO PACK GO!!!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I wish I had the ability to cast a Harry Potteresque spell to stop middle-school-aged kids from talking for like five minutes… “SILENCIO!!!” Just kidding—flying.

What are your hobbies?

I like to make music.

What’s something that people would be surprised to know about you?
Not to relive the glory days, but I was in a sax quartet called “The Joy of Sax.” We won first place in the Pierce County Fair talent show back in ’95.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Thanks, Marybeth!

What are some of the changes you have seen over your years with CHS?
Let’s talk about what hasn’t changed. Keith, you look exactly the same as you did 20 years ago, but your golf cart driving has slipped a bit in your old age—have a blessed day!

Can you share a special memory or two from your time with CHS?
When I first started on the boy’s unit (Madsen Down), a co-worker and I took the BIG RED VAN (you know the one) to Brookings with all eight of our intensive unit boys. The van broke down once when we got to Brookings (the boys had to help push it to a gas station) and we had to spend the day walking around town until it was fixed. On the way home, it broke down again (completely different issue) and we had to spend our evening at an interstate rest stop until someone from CHS was able to pick us up. 

All in all, we left at 8 in the morning and didn’t get back until 9 PM… we never made it to the waterpark, and I ended up marrying the co-worker. 😊

Do you have any advice for new employees?
90% of this job is paying attention—catch it before it becomes an issue. Oh, and when I was hired, the advice that stuck with me was that you should get a sinking feeling in your stomach if you can’t see or hear what your kids are doing.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about your time at CHS?
It’s a magical place. My co-workers are the best people in the world and the memories, both good and bad, always make me smile.