Faculty Spotlight

MR. MIKE CAMPAGNA by Sherrie Basch Stelik

Mike was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin and moved to California in 1953.   He received an A.A. degree from El Camino College and a Bachelors degree from George Pepperdine College where he played Varsity tennis.  His Masters in Education is from U.S.C.  Mike has a total of 3 California credentials, in General Elementary, General Secondary and General Administrative.  He taught grades 4 thru 6 at Warren Lane from l959 to 1963.  He left Lane for Monroe JH where he taught Science from 1963 to 1966.  In 1966 he headed to MHS where he taught typing and business law to grades 9 thru 12, coached Varsity tennis and “B” basketball until 1967.  He eventually went back to Monroe to teach P.E. from 1967 to 1969 and then again back to Warren Lane from 1969 to 1974 where he was assistant principal under Mr. Henry Popko.  In 1974 he was promoted to principal at Worthington Elementary, formerly Center Ave. or Center Park Ave. Elementary (whichever you prefer).  He was there for 2 years until he accepted a position of principal back at Warren Lane.  In 1979 he left the classroom for the courts.  He was lead tennis instructor for City of Torrance Parks and Recreation until 1983 when he began giving private tennis lessons for the City of Hermosa Beach and continues to do so as I type this.  It’s a job he has loved for the past 27 years.  Mike will celebrate his 75th birthday on April 26, 2010.  He belongs to the Los Angeles Swing Dance club and still enjoys dancing every week.  Mike continues to cut a rug at various MHS related gatherings.  He danced his socks off at the Mane Event in July 2008 and at Class of ’68 and Class of ‘69’s reunions.  Mike shared that during his teaching career he has made wonderful lifelong friends and has been blessed with many wonderful students.  And after 50 years, he still enjoys teaching.

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