Pete Pew | Photo: Hart School District

Message from Hart High Principal Collyn Nielsen:

Pete Pew, longtime social studies teacher at Hart High School, has lost his battle with cancer and passed away on Friday evening.  Mr. Pew was not only one of the best teachers at Hart, he was one of the best teachers in the nation.  He taught all levels, but was most well known for his work in Advanced Placement.  He not only taught AP, but he was also involved in the writing and scoring of AP exams.  He also trained other teachers around the country to help prepare them to be AP teachers.

Mr. Pew had a tremendous impact on the culture of achievement at Hart High School.  He was passionate about his subject and his students, and his idealism and work ethic made us all (staff and students) work harder.  He raised the bar for us all, and he has left his mark on all who work at Hart and on all who attend.

Services for Mr. Pew will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 23233 Lyons Ave., Newhall  91321.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Pew’s name to Cure Angiosarcoma at www.cureasc.org.

The following website is an organization founded by Corrie Perlroth Painter and Lauren Skop Ryan, both afflicted with angiosarcoma cancer.  The website they created brings people all over the world who unfortunately have this disease in common.  It is a place that provides information, support, caring, love and kindness.  It has been a blessing to Mr. Pew and his family.  Check it out:  www.angiosarcomaawareness.org.

——

Pew Nominated as 2011 Teacher of the Year

[Hart School District, Sept. 4, 2011] – Pete Pew was previously honored as Teacher of the Year in 2004. He has been teaching at Hart High School since 1977. Pew received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Loyola Marymount University. In addition to being a mentor teacher, Pew has been the history department chairperson for 14 years and teaches US history, AP US history, government and AP government, serves as an AP government and politics faculty consultant for The College Board and is a National AP Reader and test grader.  “Teaching certainly has its ups and its downs, but a constant for me has been the students at Hart High School,” Pew said. “In the long run they have never let me down.”