Oakfield teacher returns to the classroom after two-and-a-half year deployment in Kuwait

Sgt. Bill Snyder is happy to be back teaching eighth-grade social studies at Oakfield Alabama Middle School.

Today is his first day back in the classroom after a two-and-a half year deployment overseas in Kuwait.

"A lot of older kids are shocked to see me in hallways," Snyder says. "The younger kids are wondering who I am."

Snyder, who is with the National Guard, came home to Oakfield on Christmas Eve.

"It was a great present for my wife and kids."

He says he is looking forward to bringing his experiences from Afghanistan and Kuwait into the classroom.

"As a teacher any new experiences you have with different cultures and people can be brought back home and relayed to the kids. It brings a little realism to my classroom." 

Sgt. Snyder has been with the Oakfield Alabama Central Schools since 2000. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and returned one year later to teach part of the 2009-2010 school year.

In 2010, he was sent to Kuwait on second deployment.

"Kuwait was less hostile than (during) my first deployment to Afghanistan in 2008. They are more supportive of U.S. troops now."

This morning, in an assembly organized by Joe Jankowski, a counselor with the district, Sgt. Snyder was presented with a shadow box containing a flag and certificate along with a photo of Snyder and his fellow soldiers while they were stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The items were a gift to the Oakfield Alabama School District in 2009. Snyder had sent the flag that was flown over his base, the certificate, and photo after the district sent so many school supplies, clothing, and food packages overseas to the Afghan people near Snyder's base.

"I sent the flag and the certificate to honor the school district and the kids for supporting the military. A community in the United States helping another community around the world."

"He dedicated and sacrificed his own life to secure our freedom for our country and this assembly was just a way to show a little respect for him and his service," Jankowski says. "He has a presence about him, the kids see him as a positive role model which is what we need today. We are glad to have him back."