1. Where did the “TRAIL” lead you? A Q & A with a Trail Graduate
Q. What year did you graduate Lackawanna Trail HS?
a. When I started school at Dalton Elementary, Lackawanna Trail Joint Schools had not yet been formed. I attended the old Lilly Lake Road School which was the same one that my mother had attended and that my Grandmother had driven a horse and buggy to in the early 1900s. I was in the middle of 5th grade when the new high school opened at its present location. In 1958, in 7th grade, I joined for the first time, students from Factoryville and Nicholson (Fleetville was not yet a part). I graduated in 1964.
Q. Did you attend any schooling after leaving Trail?
a. After graduation I attended Western New England College in Springfield, MA. I earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration, management major, minor in economics. Upon returning to Dalton and while searching for a business job I started substitute teaching at local schools including Trail. Next, I completed graduate work in education at Marywood College, in order to get my PA teaching certificate. In 1972, with my teaching certificate in hand, I started as a full time Teacher at Montrose Area High School. I began as an accounting teacher and after 35 years retired as a computer teacher. I have a masters degree in Data processing. During my time at Montrose I had the opportunity to continue my interest in sports. I enjoyed coaching the boys tennis team and eventually the girls tennis team for 17 seasons.
Q. What are you doing now?
a. I am now retired and am back living in my childhood home in Dalton with my wife of 47 years Mary Ann Cornell. During  our time in Montrose we started, from scratch our own Florist business, Flowers by the Plant Shop, which we ran successfully for 17 years before selling.
Q. How has a Trail education helped prepare you for where you are now?
a. I think that while at Trail there were three things which helped me later in life. First, I was very active in sports, football, track and volleyball. This gave me a sense of being a part of something greater then myself and an understanding of teamwork. Second, being involved in school organizations and the duties involved taught me leadership and decision making. Third, and maybe most important, is the sense of well being and confidence that I felt at all times. The friendly and supportive environment fosters and builds a sense of “yes I can do this”.
I am very grateful for my time at Trail and I am pleased that it continues. I am proud that my daughter Sarah Cornell Haus is an Elementary teacher at Trail and that my granddaughter Sophie Cornell Haus is in the 6th grade at Trail. They are enjoying the modern day version of what I learned all those years ago, that all are equal, no one is better, no one less, and that, if you work hard you can achieve anything.
Alumnus: Jeff Cornell
Then…..
Now…