“A teacher’s greatest legacy is not in the lessons written on the board, but in the lives quietly reshaped in the classroom.”

Introduction

The story of Dr. Glenn Lewis is not the story of a man who had it all figured out from the beginning. Instead, it is the story of someone who stumbled, resisted, endured, and reinvented himself time and again—and in doing so, discovered the enduring strength of resilience. His life unfolds less like a straight path and more like a winding road, filled with unexpected turns: a boy who once hated school becoming a teacher for nearly three decades, a man who lost his footing only to rise again, and a storyteller who used both humor and honesty to leave a mark on every life he touched.

Born on January 20, 1968, in Newport News, Virginia, Glenn was introduced early to a life in motion. His father, Glenn Charlton Lewis Sr., worked in radio, a career that demanded constant relocation in search of growth and promotions. By the time Glenn was just one year old, the family had already shifted to New York State, and soon after, to Central Florida, where he would spend most of his childhood. His mother, Polly Lewis, balanced the home with discipline and care, embodying the strength of a nurse and the compassion of a mother. Between the humor of his father and the resilience of his mother, Glenn inherited two qualities that would become cornerstones of his character: the ability to laugh through hardship and the responsibility to keep going, no matter what.

Childhood for Glenn was shaped by simple joys and unusual lessons. Saturdays meant going to the radio station with his father, speaking a few words into the microphone, and receiving a glass bottle of orange soda as “payment.” Riding along with his father during part-time shifts at local police stations gave him a glimpse into discipline and service, planting seeds of admiration for order and responsibility. And yet, like most children, Glenn was also curious and mischievous—reenacting battles with green toy soldiers, pedaling his bicycle until the streetlights came on, and once leaping from a roof with an umbrella in hand, only to learn the hard way that Mary Poppins’s magic did not extend to Savannah, Georgia. These early memories, lighthearted as they were, carried life lessons that shaped his perspective: take risks, learn from failure, and never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.

Despite his bright mind, Glenn carried a complicated relationship with school. He often spoke of how he “hated it with a passion,” even as he graduated as an honor student—sixth out of 242 in his class. Scholarships were offered, and his grandfather even promised to pay his way through college. But Glenn, at that time, had no interest in classrooms or degrees. His plan was simple: follow his father’s footsteps into radio, a job he already had lined up. Yet, as life often does, reality pressed in. Six years after high school, restless and realizing he was getting nowhere, Glenn reconsidered. Encouraged by his parents, who reminded him of his love for history, he began again—this time stepping into the very world of education he once resisted.

“Sometimes the smallest rewards—like a bottle of soda—can shape the largest dreams.”

Phase 1: Orange Soda and Radio Waves

The beginning of every life is marked by roots, by movement, by stories told and lessons inherited long before a person understands what they mean. For Dr. Glenn Lewis, born on January 20, 1968, in Newport News, Virginia, the earliest threads of his story were woven with both stability and change. His father, Glenn Charlton Lewis Sr., worked in the unpredictable and dynamic world of radio, a career that demanded flexibility, ambition, and, most of all, constant relocation. His mother, Polly Lewis, was the anchor at home—nurturing yet firm, balancing the unpredictability of their frequent moves with the steadiness of love and responsibility. Together, they created the foundation from which Glenn’s story would grow.

Glenn’s father’s career in radio dictated much of the family’s movements in those early years. Like the military, advancement required relocation. Each new opportunity meant uprooting from one town and planting in another. By the time Glenn was just a year old, the family had already moved from Virginia to New York State, and not long after, to Central Florida. These moves were not just about new homes or schools; they represented the rhythm of a life shaped by ambition and sacrifice. It was in Central Florida, where the family eventually stayed long enough for him to form his earliest memories, that Glenn’s childhood truly unfolded.

From the age of two to twelve, Central Florida became home—a world of sunshine, amusement parks, and neighborhoods where children still rode bicycles until the streetlights came on. It was here, near the magical shadow of Disney World, that Glenn’s first real job was born. At only four years old, he began joining his father at the local radio station. On Saturday afternoons, while his father worked his shifts, Glenn sat beside him, watching, listening, and learning. His tasks were simple—speak into the microphone when told, announce something when a song ended—but for a little boy, these moments were thrilling. His “payment” was not in money but in the form of a glass bottle of orange soda. At the time, it seemed priceless. For Glenn, this experience was not only a glimpse into his father’s world but also his first lesson in responsibility, performance, and reward.

Those Saturdays at the radio station shaped more than just his voice; they shaped his imagination. He began to dream of a life where radio would be his path too, a career of sound waves, microphones, and music. To him, it felt like the natural course. While other children played make-believe, he was stepping into a booth with real buttons, switches, and flashing lights. Even though his role was small, the weight of being trusted to “say the right thing at the right time” gave him an early sense of responsibility that would remain with him for life.

“Sometimes we resist the very things that end up shaping our destiny.”

Phase 2 : A Reluctant Scholar

Education is often seen as a straight road—children enter school, progress through grades, and eventually find their calling in college or career. For Dr. Glenn Lewis, however, education was anything but a straight road. It was a rocky path, full of resistance, rebellion, and reluctant victories. Ironically, the boy who once declared his hatred for school with passion and certainty would grow up to dedicate nearly three decades of his life to classrooms, textbooks, and teaching. But the journey to that point was long, uneven, and filled with moments that revealed both his brilliance and his stubbornness.

When the Lewis family moved to Georgia during Glenn’s middle school years, it marked not just another relocation but also a new chapter in his adolescence. He had already spent a decade in Central Florida, soaking in lessons from his father’s radio work and his mother’s no-nonsense nursing background. By the time he arrived in Georgia, he was carrying with him both humor and resilience, though not necessarily a love for structured education.

High school became the proving ground for these qualities. At Windsor Forest High School in Savannah, Glenn’s talents became apparent, though not in the way most expected. He was not the student eager to sit in the front row or the one rushing to please his teachers. On the contrary, he resisted schoolwork with a passion that surprised even him. He found the process monotonous, the endless assignments burdensome, and the idea of formal education unnecessary. He often said, with the sharp honesty of a teenager, that he hated school. Yet beneath that surface disdain was a curious paradox: Glenn was brilliant.

Despite his lack of enthusiasm, he excelled academically. He graduated in 1986 as an honor graduate, finishing 6th out of 242 students. It was a remarkable achievement, but for Glenn, it felt almost hollow. While others celebrated scholarships and college offers, he shrugged them off. His mind was set elsewhere. To him, education was not a passion; it was an obligation he wanted to leave behind as soon as possible.

Radio was his first dream, the natural extension of those childhood Saturdays spent with his father at the station. He already had a job waiting in that field and saw no reason to pursue higher education. Even when scholarships were offered and his grandfather generously promised to fund his college education, Glenn’s answer was firm: no. He had no intention of continuing his studies. In his own mind, school had served its purpose. He had done well, he had graduated with honors, and now it was time to move on.

“A teacher is never just teaching a subject; he is teaching life—one story, one lesson, one student at a time.”

Phase 3 : The Classroom Becomes Home

The first steps of a career often carry with them both uncertainty and excitement. For Dr. Glenn Lewis, stepping into a classroom for the very first time as a teacher was not just a job assignment—it was the beginning of a lifelong calling. His journey from a reluctant scholar to a devoted educator had already been marked by irony and resilience, but in this new phase, he discovered what it truly meant to build a life around service, knowledge, and mentorship.

After completing his studies, Glenn entered the teaching profession in the late 1990s. His early years were spent at Twiggs Academy in Jeffersonville, Georgia (1997–1999), where he wore multiple hats: teacher, department chair, media specialist, and IT support. The responsibilities were wide-ranging and demanding, but they gave him a firsthand look at the multifaceted nature of teaching. In those years, Glenn was not only teaching subjects like U.S. History, World History, Geography, Psychology, Economics, and Social Studies, but he was also learning how to manage classrooms, guide students, and shape young lives.

What stood out about Glenn in these early years was his ability to connect. He was never a distant figure standing behind a desk; instead, he infused his teaching with humor, empathy, and honesty. He often reminded students that he himself had once hated school, and this confession broke down barriers. Students realized that their teacher was not preaching from a pedestal but walking alongside them, fully aware of their frustrations and fears. This connection became one of his greatest strengths, allowing him to reach even the most reluctant learners.

From Twiggs Academy, Glenn transitioned to Long County High School in Ludowici (1999–2004), where he further honed his craft. These five years were formative, establishing him not only as a teacher but as a community figure. Teaching U.S. and World History, he learned the delicate balance between sticking to curriculum requirements and making history come alive. He brought stories into the classroom, weaving narratives about past events into lessons that students could see reflected in their own lives. For Glenn, history was not about dates and timelines—it was about people, choices, and consequences. It was about teaching students that their own stories mattered, just as much as those of presidents and revolutionaries.

During this time, Glenn also discovered the profound truth that teaching was far more than academics. Teachers became nurses, counselors, mentors, and sometimes even parental figures. Students came to class carrying burdens far heavier than textbooks—struggles at home, financial hardships, and personal challenges. Glenn, guided by his mother’s lessons in resilience and his father’s lessons in kindness, responded with patience and care. He listened, he encouraged, and he reminded students that setbacks were not endings, but beginnings in disguise.

Note of Thanks

life. My father’s humor and respect for others taught me how to carry myself, while my mother’s resilience and discipline instilled in me the courage to keep showing up, even on the hardest days. Though they are no longer here, their voices still guide me, and their lessons live on in all I do.

To my daughter, who remains my proudest accomplishment—you are the light that makes every struggle worthwhile. Each year, when I call at 12:39 on your birthday, it is more than tradition—it is a reminder of the moment that gave my life new meaning. Watching you grow into your own passions gives me hope that the best parts of me will carry forward through you.

To my wife, whose patience and encouragement gave me the strength to begin again when life seemed to unravel—thank you for believing in me when I doubted myself. Your support reminded me that second chances are real, and that love can steady even the most uncertain journey.

And finally, to my students—past and present—you have been my reason to keep teaching, learning, and laughing. You reminded me every day that education is not about tests but about connection, resilience, and hope.

This biography is dedicated to all of you. If my story holds meaning, it is because your love, your lessons, and your presence have given it shape.

Thank You
– Dr. Glenn Lewis