Lisa Balanda, one of Hershey High School’s most celebrated and influential English teachers, is retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 school year after almost 35 years of teaching.
Before she taught at Hershey, Balanda taught for 10 years in the Pocono Mountains, as well as working in state government. She began teaching at HHS in 2003.
Balanda teaches a multitude of different courses at Hershey High School, including Speech and Debate, Theatre Arts, and Great Books for eleventh grade. She also directs the HHS Theatre’s Spring Comedy, helps with Student Council, and handles the Commencement speeches.
Balanda always knew she wanted to be a teacher ever since she was a little girl, but that was quickly reinforced because of her ninth-grade teacher, Mr. Iwansky.
“I didn’t love to read until I had him,” she said, noting that she always loved to write but that Mr. Iwansky was a major factor in her decision to teach English.
Balanda was able to recognize Mr. Iwansky’s vast vocabulary, his love of grammar, and his conversational skills with students. As a result, she was able to replicate those skills with her own in the way she teaches.
Additionally, Balanda works as part of the Education Department for the Hershey Theatre, as well as running their tour program. Although the Theatre has been shut down for renovations, she has been getting progress tours so she is ready for when the Theatre is back for the public. After retirement, Balanda plans to pick up more time at her position at the Theatre as well as her role in giving tours at High Point Mansion.
Balanda’s choice to retire now is due to multiple reasons. Because of the constant changes in the education system, specifically with technology, Mrs. Balanda believes that her style of teaching doesn’t reflect those changes in educational institutions. Additionally, when retirement is able to be accepted by teachers, most teachers choose to because of the benefits and the feeling that they have done what they could in their time teaching.
Balanda said she will miss the kids the most after she retires. She said, “There are some of us who always want to be in the classroom, and that’s who I am.” Her connection and empathy with students have always inspired her, especially her ability to bond with them over her favorite books.
Balanda’s impact on students is undeniable, and even though her teaching journey is coming to an end, that impact is clear to be permanent.
