With school letting out and college kids returning, a large crowd is expected for the June 6 community reception honoring Michael O’Hern and Terry Berrier. MOH, as the long-time Lake Highlands High School choral director is known to his colleagues and former students, is retiring after spending his entire 31-year teaching career in Lake Highlands – first at LHJH, then at LHHS. Berrier, who says she’ll pursue other opportunities, has taught at LHHS for 14 years.
Altogether, Berrier and O’Hern have taught more than 5000 students, and they’ve each been invited to the Top Ten Luncheon as Most Influential Teacher more times than they can count. They’ve chaperoned a combined 41 Espree ski trips and taken the A Cappella choirs to competitions at Disney World, San Antonio and Padre Island for over 15 years.
Besides class during the school day, the two have spent hundreds of hours each year preparing for UIL competition, the annual Espree show and the school musical.
“The Lake Highlands community is losing two very special people,” choir mom Diana Milan told me. “Both Mr. O’Hern and Mrs. Berrier have had a profound influence on hundreds of Lake Highlands’ families and will be greatly missed.”
Forest Meadow Junior High choir director Kari Gilbertson will direct the LHHS choir next year.
The reception will be held June 6 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the LHHS library.
