Long-Serving Teacher Sets Guinness World Record

A Michigan educator with a remarkable teaching history, Beverly Hannett Price, has made quite an impact, once even counting Robin Williams and Courtney B. Vance among her students. Over nearly 70 years, she has dedicated herself to teaching and was recently recognized with the title of the longest-serving female language teacher.

Hannett Price has spent 67 years at Detroit Country Day School, and school officials praised her enduring influence on students who have gone on to achieve great things in various fields, including entertainment and business.

The 90-year-old English teacher has changed the lives of countless students and even attended a recent event honoring Vance when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He expressed gratitude for her mentorship, emphasizing how their relationship evolved into something far deeper than just a teacher-student dynamic.

Vance recalled how she supported him during difficult times, saying, “She came to the house and sat with my mother…this is not just a student-teacher relationship. This is a life relationship.” His words reflect an appreciation for the profound bonds that can form in education.

He remarked on how life is fleeting and highlighted the importance of having a few cherished relationships: “She is an absolute blessing. Every day is a great day for her, and she reminds us all that life is a gift.” It’s touching to see such genuine sentiment toward a teacher who has so positively influenced her students.

Price’s teaching career began after she graduated from Albion College in 1958, and she’s continuously taught in various schools across Alabama and Florida. Remarkably, she shared that she’s never once considered doing anything but teaching. “I have never left this building wanting to do anything else,” she stated.

She carries on her work enthusiastically and, as she puts it, “I…I’m not thinking about retiring.” Her love for teaching remains vibrant, and it’s evident that she will continue to inspire future generations for as long as she can.