Before working at MTHS, 1978 alumnus Jerry Myers was versatile in the workforce, having jobs such as plumber, mover, handi-mart worker and dishwasher. While working at MTHS, Myers has been a gym manager, doorman at dances and an announcer at games. Currently, he works in security at MTHS.

Myers grew up playing soccer. He played soccer for the MTHS men’s soccer team between 1976 and 1978, and was team captain.

“I was trying to take care of my teammates from a young age. When I grew up in athletics, I was always captain of my teams. I’ve always had a responsibility for how kids acted. That’s kinda who I am even away from the job,” Myers said.

At 23 years old, Myers was asked if he wanted to be an assistant soccer coach by Wayne King, who coached him prior on the high school level. In Nov. 1987, the soccer team that he coached won a state title.

“After coaching [at MTHS] for 2 years, the vice principal approached me and asked me if I’d like to be a study hall teacher,” Myers said. “So that’s what I did when I first started working here; I sat in study halls.”

Myers currently works in security for MTHS. According to Myers, the school needed someone to work in security because no one else previously had that occupation. His job ranges from patrolling the parking lot to being a substitute.

“The interesting part about my job is that it changes so much,” Myers said. “This morning I arrived at about 10 after 6, I don’t start until 6:30 but I like to arrive early. I sit at my desk, I check my messages, I look at my cameras. This morning, the office called and said ‘we need a sub at room 104,’ so I subbed for [civics and government teacher George] Dremousis.”

Myers’ main job is to watch the security cameras as students come in and out of the school. However, he has a variety of other tasks, such as checking for passes to leave the campus during lunch, working in the parking lot and issuing parking permits.

Since Myers is stationed at the front of the school and watches the security cameras, he sees the variety of people who enter the building everyday.

“I get to see everybody,” Myers said. “And I’m a people watcher. Even if I’m away from the job and I’m at a concert or I’m down at Pike Place Market, I watch people. I try to read their faces, read their mannerisms. Again, that’s something I’ve done my whole life. I try to understand what kind of mood a person is by looking at them, or how they’re acting or how they’re acting with others.”

Myers’ personality is depicted in his occupation. “The weird thing is my job is an extension of who I am. I’ve kind of always been the person who’s looked after kids. So even in elementary and junior high I’ve always been a student leader who helped with kids as far as rules went,” Myers said.

As with any job, struggles arise when working in security. Sometimes, it can be frustrating to Myers when a few students are rude to him because they don’t want to be at school or are prejudiced against security before getting to know him.

“I’ve been here for a long time and I care about them,” Myers said in response to other’s opinion on security. “Though sometimes I might not come across that way, I’m always watching them to see if there’s anything I can do to help.”

According to Myers, seeing a variety of people on a daily basis entails trying to understand the different types of cultures and people on campus at MTHS and recognizing everyone as their own individual person. Due to the wide variety of people at MTHS, he has had to learn to adjust to different people’s personality.

“Let’s say you’re in a bad mood. Sometimes, you may come across being a little harsh. Or if you’re in a really good mood, you may come across as seeming too soft. I kinda see every side of that plus the balance in between there. I’m a moody person, I’m human, so things happen,” Myers said.

Aside from working, Myers enjoys fishing, camping and playing the guitar. His experience as fisherman includes catching steelhead, trout and bass. He has also been playing the guitar since he was six years old.

“I’m the type of person that can go home and crank up my guitar and play for three hours straight all by myself and enjoy it,” Myers said.

After Myers turned 50-years-old, a lot of his speed and jumping ability was lost. He then focused his attention on guitar.

“My dad was a real excellent guitar player,” Myers said. “When I was in high school and college I was in various bands as a singer and played very little guitar, but I’ve always wrote little songs on the guitar and known how to play. It’s something I really enjoy. I love loud music. Extremely loud music.”