Brian Grabinski admits he never expected to stay in Hamilton too long after landing a job in the district 23 years ago. In fact, he had an opportunity to get back to his hometown almost immediately in his teaching career.
"After my first or second year here, I applied for a job back at my old high school and that's where I pictured myself ending up," Grabinski said. "That's where my dad taught and coached and where I wanted to be. I went through a first round interview and I realized it didn't really feel right so I withdrew my name from consideration."
Since that day, Grabinski has planted his roots here in Hamilton and hasn't looked back.
"I realized in that moment that this is where I wanted to be and from that moment on, I've never applied for another job or even looked at one," he added.
Grabinski, who teaches High School US and World History as well as physical education, has also coached several different sports at Hamilton including baseball where he led the Hawkeyes to the 2022 regional championship.
"You can't beat the kids that we have and the families they come from," he smiled. "A lot of times, I tell our baseball parents as we talk about our focuses I say, 'I'm not naive. We're not introducing these concepts of hard work, teamwork, and self sacrifice, but we're just hoping to reinforce those values that are learned at home."
And it's those values that have helped the Grabinski family plant their roots in Hamilton, Michigan.
"It's a great place to live and raise and family, I have three kids now and just the overall values of the community make it great place to work and live."
