When his sister mentioned her school was hiring, Mr. Harry Jordan packed a weekend bag and left Harrisburg. He never came back for the rest of his things.
Ever since then, he has been the Lead Support Staff for Instructional Support.
So what does he do? Basically, everything.
“This was a guy that not only had the ability to keep students in line, but also allow them to express themselves and be real and to feel real life as it was happening,” English teacher Mr. Kevin Haney said. “He was a counselor. He was a disciplinarian, he was a teacher, he was a motivator. And I think when I tell the students who he was overall, it will be that he is somebody that you want to take pieces of and carry with you the rest of your life.”
Haney remembers meeting Jordan nineteen years ago.
“The first impression I had of him was a guy who was real, authentic, funny as all heck, and tells the truth,” Haney said.
When senior Jahi Curtis entered high school, he found Jordan to be a commanding presence. While that hasn’t changed much, Curtis feels comfortable talking to Jordan.
“He’s great to interact with,” Curtis said. “He always helps me out when I need him to, if I’m struggling a little bit. He’s always somebody that I can talk to and we just laugh and just have a good time.”
Senior Philip Collins enjoys grabbing snacks with Jordan and talking to him in between classes.
“I know I can be myself around him and be like a jokester with him. He’s really cool,” Collins said.
Curtis will miss seeing Jordan around the hallways, and wishes him a good retirement.
“I’m really thankful that we got four years with him, just being able to interact with him throughout the school years, because he’s a really great person,” Curtis said.
Jordan will be leaving Haven to take care of his mother, and then plans to live with a friend.
“Sad to say, if she passes before me, I’m going to end up in Jacksonville, Florida,” Jordan said.
Jordan was selected by the senior class to be the commencement speaker in 2018, and then received the yearbook dedication in 2024. He appreciates the interconnectivity of Haven.
“When I spoke for the seniors, I think that’s one of my highlights of my career here,” Jordan said. “Then the awards I’ve won since I’ve been here. All those memories, all those things that I cannot bring back, I cannot change, and I wouldn’t want to change. So that’s what made Strath Haven home for me.”
Haney, social studies teacher Ms. Xaras Collins, math teacher Ms. Lysa Rieger, and science teacher Mr. Tim Styer were just a few staff members Jordan listed as some of his closest friends. He is grateful for how accessible they have been to him.
“A lot of people have my phone number, just an open ear, just somebody that you can talk to. Because don’t get me wrong, working at this school is not easy,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s job involves enforcing rules and regulations at Haven. But he emphasizes that he will never turn his back on a student because he will always expect the best from them. He wants them to succeed in the real world.
“A lot of you students here mean a lot to me,” Jordan said. “A lot of people might think I’m mean, but if you really, really sit down and talk to me, if you sat down and got to know me, you’ll understand why I’m hard going about these kids. Because I want it better for you guys. I don’t want you guys to follow the same track that I followed. Don’t get here the same way I got here. Keep your education. Keep on wanting to learn.”
Jordan would sometimes go into Haney’s public speaking class and listen to students’ speeches. Some students refused to give their speech unless Jordan was there, too. Jordan even gave his own speeches.
“And I think what that did was it allowed the student body here to not just see Mr. Jordan, but Harry Jordan, to see the real man. At the core of this place, he is the heart and soul of Strath Haven,” Haney said.
Jordan has one final parting word for his beloved school.
“Peace!”
