ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Alexandria City High School Titans are mourning the loss of a long-time math teacher, Louis Kokonis. He died on Jan. 4. He was 91.
Kokonis was a teacher for more than 60 years. He was the longest-serving teacher in the history of Alexandria City Public Schools. He started his career in 1959 at Francis C. Hammond Middle School before joining the high school math department, teaching all levels.
He was famously devoted to his students. Kokonis spoke to WUSA9 in 2018 about his passion for teaching, and said he planned to teach as long as he was able, and that he did.
"You have to like students.... I hope I made a difference....I did my best," he told WUSA9.
There is a scholarship in his name, the Louis Kokonis Teaching Legend Scholarship. For his many accomplishments, he was celebrated in 2019 by the Virginia General Assembly in Joint House Resolution #727. The resolution stated, “Louis Kokonis has imparted his passion for lifelong learning to his students, many of whom went on to become physicists, engineers, doctors and professors.”
The high school's staff will be providing assistance to staff and students in need of support as they grieve. Support circles will be provided next week. Students and families can also reach CrisisText and Crisis Link at any time of the day or night, seven days a week, through the contacts below:
- Text: CONNECT to 85511
- Call CrisisLink: 703-527-4077
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