An Eye for Underdogs: Mark Pickering

Mark Pickering is a retired high school teacher.  His teaching career spanned three decades and included experiences and relationships that have continued to impact his life. In addition to teaching literature, writing and business, he advised the school newspaper for five years and coached both boys and girls golf for 23 seasons.  Though Mark holds a Bachelor and Masters degrees in education, his most significant and interesting learning experiences remain rooted in his time in the classroom interacting with the most fascinating of human creatures—teenagers.  

Mark does three things to keep busy during retirement (in the absence of a pandemic). He teaches inmates, one to two days a week, in the local county jail where he designed a curriculum that addresses the significance of goal setting, job preparation and job retention. Mark also volunteers as a coach for the Eastern Michigan Chapter of The First Tee golf program. The goal of First Tee is to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges, and uses the game of golf to teach positive character traits. 

Mark’s third and most important role is that of Papa to Hazel Faye, Sage Everly and a precious baby to be who will arrive this August.  Blessed to be living in the same community as his little grandbabies, this role provides an opportunity to reframe a familiar story without the distractions of earning a living.  Mark tries to make the most of being Papa by engaging with his grandchildren every day through morning or evening Facetime calls, playdates and shared naptimes.