Edison’s Flanagan Never Makes Light of Education

Denny Flanagan is the leading receiver for Huntington Beach Edison High’s 6-0-1 football team. He’s also an early favorite to win the state track and field championship in the 110 high hurdles next spring.

But for all the joy and satisfaction he derives from competing in sports, Flanagan never forgets what the value of an education truly means.

That’s because teaching is in his blood. His parents have been teachers for more than 35 years, and from the time he was playing in a sandbox, he has been taught that nothing is more important that what he learns in the classroom.

He recalls his fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Brady, who found a way to ignite his curiosity and unleash his intellect.

“She recognized my potential as a student and I started to enjoy school,” he said.

Mrs. Carpenter was Flanagan’s English teacher in 11th grade and she made him excited to show up to class.

“She brought books to life,” Flanagan said. “She made English an interesting class.”

Flanagan is taking Spanish 3. His teacher, Mr. Waters, is a former football coach.

“He’s a good guy and I talked to him not just about Spanish, but football, and he gave me a lot of advice,” Flanagan said.

Ask Flanagan if teachers aren’t indispensable public servants. Ask him if they aren’t as invaluable as policemen and firemen in helping a community prosper.

“I enjoy school every day,” he said. “I enjoy seeing books come alive and how they relate to life.”

During the summer, Flanagan read Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson’s autobiography, “The Best I Can Be.”

“He wrote about all the things he went through getting to the top and what was important to him and his trust in God,” Flanagan said. “It was the same things I believe in. It was inspirational to read a book about a guy who succeeded.”

Last spring, Flanagan faced a difficult decision. He was scheduled to run in the Orange County track championships. But on the same day, he was committed to participate in the Model United Nations, an academic program that brings together a select group of high school students who simulate the real United Nations by representing various countries.

For three years, he had been running track. For three years, he had been in the Model United Nations.

He decided he could miss track for one day. He turned down the chance for headlines in the sports section to give a speech on the problems Malaysia was having with malnutrition.

“At the time, I felt I needed to go to the conference to stay in Model U.N.,” he said.

His track season didn’t suffer. He finished seventh at the state championships in the high hurdles.

He proved that it’s possible to balance sports with academics.

Flanagan is 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds. He starts at free safety and receiver. He has a 3.5 grade-point average and would like to attend an Ivy League school next fall.

If he makes it to Harvard, Yale or Princeton, he’ll be surrounded by future doctors, lawyers, engineers and Wall Street financial experts. If they ask him what he wants to do, they might fall down laughing.

Flanagan is giving serious consideration to becoming a kindergarten teacher.

“I’ve always been interested in teaching,” he said. “I’ve always figured I could teach at any level. I would enjoy teaching kindergarten.

“You have to find creative ways for them to learn. I’ve always liked dealing with kids. It’s just enjoyable. I have little nephews and nieces and enjoy seeing how they react.”

Somebody in the Huntington Beach Unified School District should offer Flanagan a job right now, for they may never find an 18-year-old quite like him.

Flanagan knows that teachers generally aren’t paid well, that their satisfaction comes when former pupils who’ve gone on to successful careers return to offer a heartwarming, “Thank you.”

Flanagan is thankful to all his teachers for giving him the knowledge and insights he’ll need to make it in life.

He’s grateful they’ve taught him to persevere, to trust his instincts and to never stop learning.

He hasn’t forgotten the lesson he gained from reading Johnson’s autobiography--”to believe in yourself and have confidence that if you work hard and have the potential, then nothing can stop you except yourself.”

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com