When Angie and Craig Seay met while serving as F-15 aircraft mechanics at an Air Force base in the Netherlands, they were following a family tradition of military service. Both had relatives who served in major conflicts, including World War II, Vietnam, and Korea. “They were icons,” said Craig Seay. “There was this big world out there everybody kept talking about, and I wanted to see that great big world. The Air Force was my way out of South Carolina.”
Their years in the military took them overseas where they encountered different cultures and communities. Angie recalled being one of the few women in her field: “I was the only female crew chief on my base for a few years. So I had to toughen up.” She added, “I’ve never felt that camaraderie in all the jobs that I’ve had afterwards. There’s nothing like it.”
After leaving active duty, both faced career uncertainty during the 2008 recession when job cuts affected their civilian positions in El Paso County. Angie started substitute teaching after encouragement from friends and eventually became a licensed social studies teacher at Doherty High School, where she has taught U.S. History and Sociology for 13 years.
Craig’s path led him first to work as an IT support technician for local schools before he decided to pursue teaching full-time. His background as a military instructor influenced his approach but he noted differences between military and public education: “All my experience as a military instructor was really great, but it’s a different world in public education than military education.” Encouraged by school administrators, he began teaching telecommunications—launching Colorado’s first such program at a public high school—and now teaches fiber optics, networking, and wireless communications.
“In the military, you’ve got 125 people all trying to get the same thing done,” Craig explained about his classroom philosophy. He emphasizes teamwork among students along with technical skills.
Both educators say their service influences how they relate to students—especially those from military families or with transient backgrounds common in Colorado Springs’ community. Angie noted: “We are lucky to live in this town that’s military, that the kids do have an understanding.” Her lessons often connect with students’ own experiences moving or having family members serve abroad.
Craig is open about sharing his experiences when asked by students but says joining the armed forces is a personal decision: “To serve in the military is a very personal choice as a human being,” he said. He also uses his background to highlight civic responsibility: “I’ve deployed to countries where you don’t get to elect your monarch… We have something pretty special here.”
The couple applies values learned during their service—commitment and supporting others—to their roles as teachers and union members today.
