At 51 years old, Byron Braden is a model of community service.
He has given 25 years as a Seattle firefighter and is now the new ninth grade history teacher at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood.
After retiring from the fire department in 1998, Braden graduated with his masters degree in teaching from the University of Washington last March, and began his new career only a few weeks ago.
“It was less than a week before school started when I got the call. I’m still scrambling, trying to get my feet in the ground here,” he said.
Braden said after he retired he didn’t want to relax, but instead wanted to keep focus in life and keep busy.
With his mother as his biggest influence, he said she taught him to be active in his community and to serve others.
Teaching seemed like a natural step.
“They’re both jobs of service, that’s for sure. It’s part of my upbringing. My mother, she always emphasized doing, contributing,” Braden said.
However, his training as a teacher began long before his retirement.
“Among all the things I got to do at the fire department, I was the chief of training. I got to work with young firefighters and really enjoyed it. I love teaching,” Braden explained.
Growing up with a father who served in World War II, Braden was steeped in history and fell in love with learning about the past early on. Now as a history teacher, Braden says he can share that knowledge and his passion with his students.
“I’ve been a student of history my entire life, and even in my firefighter years I read a lot about it,” Braden said.
As to why he chose to work at Meadowdale, he said, “They offered me a job, to be frank. But I think I fell into a great place at this school. With this staff, everyone’s supportive.”
Braden says that in conjunction with his career as a firefighter, his life is based in one simple philosophy that he plans to share with his students.
“I think there’s only one way anything gets done in this world, and that’s through hard work. That’s what I pass on to my students, though some are ready to hear that and some aren’t,” Braden said.
Byron Braden lives in Bothell with his wife, and has two daughters ages 15 and 20.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
