If you have ever heard someone say they were going to “take you to fist city,” or “throw you through a wall,” or that they “don’t give a flying satellite dish,” or call, loudly, on “Mary, mother of Jesus,” upon hearing or seeing something hard to believe, it is likely you have sat in the classroom of Steven Stansbury.

Known throughout the community for his colorful personality, Stansbury, 54, said he knew he wanted to teach at 7-years-old and received encouragement from the congregation of the Methodist Church and from his parents, who he said revered teachers.

“I loved history and was math and science retarded,” Stansbury said. “So, social studies education was a good fit for me.”

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He completed his teaching degree in 1976 and accepted a position at NISH where he taught civics and free enterprise for 30 years before retiring in 2006.

Stansbury said his class was a happy class and he could tell that students loved coming there because they never knew what to expect.

“I never got in trouble for anything I said to them,” he said. “I skirted things really well. I would get real with them. Some parents want you teaching morals and ethics but not all parents have the same morals and ethics so it was a balance.”

Kathleen Fowler, retired assistant principal at NISH and Stansbury’s student teaching supervisor in the 1970s said there were many things Stansbury said or got away with during his teaching career that many other teachers would have been fired for.

Stansbury credits Fowler with helping him succeed as a teacher and said she is a mentor to him on many levels.

“Steven stands out,” Fowler said. “He is a wonderful person. I enjoyed having him as a student teacher and he was certainly an asset to NISH for many years. Working with and knowing him has been a big blessing in my life.”

He said what he wanted most to convey to his students was the importance of a positive attitude which he said he hopes after 30 years and more than 6,000 students, he achieved.

Stansbury gets emotional when he talks about his years in the classroom but knew it was time to go.

“Some people stay too long,” he said. “You have to know when to give it up and give younger teachers a chance. I always told myself I would stay 30 years and then try something else.”

During his tenure at NISH and in the years since his retirement, Stansbury has tried many other things.

Stansbury became involved in the real estate game at 14-years-old with his father Jacob G. Stansbury, and has continued working within the industry today.

“When I was 14, my daddy sold an oilfield company and retired,” he said. “He started the real estate company because my mother threatened to take him out if he didn’t do something. He would always tell me to get my real estate license and I finally did when I was 26 which was a source of supplemental income for me while I was teaching.”

Father and son developed several subdivisions over the years including Oak Manor and Emmeline, and Rue Royal and at 93, Stansbury said his dad is looking for another 100 acres of property to develop.

Another passion for Stansbury is grief counseling. His friend Alvin Stutts opened Acadian Funeral Home in 2003 and Stansbury has found a place there to help families.

“I felt like I could help families cope with their loss of a loved one,” he said. “I think teaching has helped me a lot with that. A lot of times, I don’t know what comes out of my mouth but whatever it is, seems to help.”

What the future holds for Steven Stansbury is anyone’s guess. He said people say he should run for political office.

“I know no strangers,” he said. “The problem with running for office is that I would win and then things would have to be done right and the government will not let things be done right.”

So far, Stansbury said all of his dreams have come true.

“Everything I wanted worked out and and it all came too easy,” he said. “I really think it all goes back to church and my parents and teachers who believed in me along the way.”