When you meet Randy Hayner and learn he is a teacher at Aspiranet Stanislaus Academy, you immediately think that he’s in the Sports Department. Instead, Randy teaches high school students who attend Stanislaus Academy, a school that provides individualized education for children. Randy and a teaching assistant, instruct students who are struggling with emotional issues and/or learning disabilities. This former athlete demonstrates the patience and provides the structured environment needed to help students learn. “I like working with older youth. My experience with them is if I give them the attention they deserve, the instructions they need in the way that they can understand it, they will respond positively. I see progress everyday.”

One can tell that Randy is well liked by his students, past and present. His classroom bulletin board is packed with “thank yous” from students, drawings and tributes to his ability to reach them on an individual basis. Randy has taught a lot of students having been at Stanislaus Academy for thirteen years. “Despite the challenges,” Randy says, “I love what I do. These students are outstanding.”  No wonder - with a teacher like Randy in their corner.