Sullivan said he wanted that classroom to send a message about learning: “Even though I was the substitute until the end of the year, we wanted it to look a certain kind of way because we had expectations for all of the students,” he said.

And despite the early end to the school year, Sullivan and his team still must handle retirements and hiring in time for the first day of classes in August.

Although he was thin, Sullivan played football and was a receiver during his first two years of high school.

That one male teacher in the school gets to do a little of everything,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan later worked with Drew at Center Street Middle School and on the leadership team in the school system office.