The KO faculty is made up of a group of adults who passionately lead in all that they take on. During his 31 years at KO, English teacher, football coach, lacrosse coach, and Form Dean David Hild has left his mark on our KO community, providing us with memories that will last a lifetime. So, as we say farewell to Mr. Hild’s time at KO, we look back on all that he has provided our community with.
Mr. Hild began his time at KO in the fall of 1975 in the Middle School and later graduated from KO in 1980. However, his time at KO was most definitely not over, as he returned as a faculty member in 1993. “I came back in 1993 because the Head of School Dr. Lee Levison was interested in me becoming the head football coach,” he stated.
Along with coaching, Mr. Hild has held many important roles within our community. “In the 31 years I’ve been here, I’ve been a dean in one way or another for 26 of them,” he shared. Since Mr. Hild was preoccupied with his many responsibilities during those early years of teaching, he recalls only having taught around two classes each year at that time. “It’s really only been the last 15 years that I’ve been more of a full-time English teacher,” he said.
Mr. Hild has always had a strong passion for education and athletics. “I got into teaching because, honestly, at the start I really just wanted to continue coaching,” he shared. “At prep schools, teachers are coaches and coaches are teachers, and I really loved the flexibility of that role.” When choosing to come back and teach at KO, the main determining factor came from his own personal experience here as a student. He had appreciated the generosity and compassion that his teachers had shown him and knew that he wanted to be able to provide students with the same. “When thinking about being a teacher and coach, I just thought, ‘Wow, that’s a great life,’” he said.
One of his favorite classes to teach is English 3. “Their class is all about storytelling, which I love,” he shared. “I believe that the stories of your life and people being able to tell their stories is really important because it helps you to establish your identity and be proud.”
In addition to freshman English, Mr. Hild has loved teaching his senior American Dream elective. “I love seeing them explore what they’re thinking and where they want to go and what they see for their future and how that relates to people that they read or view in the literature that we read and watch and listen to,” he explained.
Not only has Mr. Hild loved his time teaching and coaching, but he has also enjoyed immersing himself in the community through trips and activities. “I look at things like going to Tobati and Paraguay with kids for me as a really unique opportunity to get to know my students even better,” he said.
Mr. Hild has gotten to know KO students and the culture of the school in ways that not many people have. “KO has been my home for most of my life,” he shared. “You know, I came here as a student, and for most of the last 50 years, I’ve been here in one way or another.”
Mr. Hild hopes that his students have been able to see him as a supporter and friend to them over the years in his roles as teacher and coach.
Student and advisee of Mr. Hild’s, senior Ava Cashman, reflected on her personal experience with him, and his unwavering commitment to his students. “Mr. Hild has always known what’s best for me and given me really great advice,” Ava said. “Whether it’s just things in life or making my schedules, he knows what the best choice is for me even before I know it.”
A dear friend to Mr. Hild and former Head of School Lee Levison shared a letter with Mr. Hild for his 60th birthday putting into words the best way to describe Mr. Hild. “[It] was your wisdom about your students and your patience with them, particularly those having rough patches, that so impressed me—and inspired me to be more generous and patient in my dealings with colleagues, students, and parents,” Dr. Levison wrote. “Patience and empathy cannot really be taught. You have the unique gift to express love for your students while holding them to account. That is no easy feat.”
During his time teaching, Mr. Hild has learned many valuable lessons to benefit both him and others. “Something that I’ve come to believe in the latter half of my career is that good teaching is all about relationships and being positive and kind to people,” Mr. Hild told me. “Hopefully, students have felt that from me.” He truly believes that if you want to form connections with your students, you need to put in the effort to show them your commitment, outside of the classroom or field.
Even after retiring, Mr. Hild hopes to stay a part of the KO community through his stories and memories. “I’d like to believe that I’ll continue to be a part of the KO story and KO will continue to be a part of mine because even though I may not be here physically, as long as I tell stories about this place and as long as those stories are being told, you’re still not really leaving,” he said.
Mr. Hild shared an idea that could help us all move on to new chapters of our lives. “I kind of believe in ghosts,” he said. “Not literally ghosts, but the part of our spirit that lives on as long as other people are carrying us and our stories with them.”
Although Mr. Hild may no longer be on campus, his stories will continue to echo through the halls, and his legacy and passion will carry on for years after his retirement. Mr. Hild will be largely missed at KO, yet his impact will be forever lasting.
