(Editor’s Note: This is the second in a multi-part series examining interesting stories about PV teachers from outside of the classroom. Whether it is an unusual hobby, a prior job, or a specific interest, PV teachers have much to tell. Apparently, teachers have lives outside Pascack Valley. Who Knew!)

Mr. Bill Koenig is not particularly fond of staying in one place for too long.

For 25 years of his life, before becoming a physics teacher, he was a construction worker based out of Park Ridge.

“I had a goal in life to have at least three different careers,” Koenig said. “I loved what I did, but I also wanted to do something new.”

Koenig was the type of construction worker who traveled all around the tri-state area. Along those travels, he would for take in work that involved residential and commercial construction. Some of his favorite projects including building fountains for memorial parks or ponds for residential backyards.

“Most of the commercial work involved parks and recreational facilities,” Koenig said. “The majority of the residential work was new construction, with 30% as existing construction.”

His father was a licensed landscape architect who ran a business in which he designed and implemented most of his own work.

While Koenig was attempting to discover his passion, he went from helping his father with landscape architecture to taking up accounting. A few years later, he knew he wanted to work with his father and decided to let the rest of the pieces fall into place.

Despite a long career in construction, Koenig knew it wouldn’t be his only career due to personal and physical reasons. He enjoyed the idea of a classroom setting and showing  students his experience and talents, which led him to become a teacher.

“I loved physics and understanding how things worked and the principals behind them which I utilized in construction”  Koenig said. “But I think one needs to be certain that teaching is what they want to do before going into it. I have no regrets, I knew teaching was what I wanted to do.”

Koenig went back to school at night to get his certification in physics, mathematics, and chemistry. He learned some material in school that he had already learned from his experience and position as a construction worker.

“Having a position of authority,  you learn communication skills, patience, and the ability to explain certain situations in multiple ways,” Koenig said.

With these skills, Koenig personally built and renovated three of his homes that he later sold. He still actively works with companies he was involved in during his time as a construction worker.

Koenig’s future will undoubtedly hold new surprises with a possible new occupation on the horizon.

“There is a third career coming down the pipe,” he said. “I can’t tell you what that is, but I have my sights on what I would like to do as a third career, this would be completely different from teaching. When the time is right hopefully I will make that move.”