of  
John Hazard
For 33 years, Cranbrook students benefited from John Hazard's expertise as a teacher and working poet.

As creator of the Upper School's Writing Workshop class, he introduced hundreds of seniors to the art of writing poetry and prose. Several have continued to write after graduation, including Todd Kessler ('90), a writer/producer of the Emmy-award-winning HBO series, "The Sopranos."

Hazard arrived at Cranbrook in 1972 as a graduate of Ohio University. During his early teaching years, he coached football, basketball and baseball. In 1987, Hazard founded the after-school community service program, which continues to give students the opportunity to reach out to underprivileged people.

Hazard was chosen as the 1999-2000 Faculty Sabbatical Award recipient, earning a year off from teaching to devote himself to writing, refining and submitting poetry for publication. He has published about 35 poems in 15 different literary magazines, including Poetry Magazine and Ploughshares.
2/9/2009 - Kabir  Syed
Haz was the best English teacher I had at CK (with Ms. Scott and Ms. Butler a close 2nd and 3rd). Haz used to teach current literature and brought us into a sense of the possibilities of writing and reading. I still think of him when I buy a new book of fiction or the journal Poetry. I loved his dog too!
6/12/2008 - Keith  Rockwell
John was a doubtless a great teacher. He inspired class room discussions where dissenting views, if argued thoughtfully, were not only respected but valued. But it was John's guidance that I valued most. High school years are rife with anxiety and John's soothing tones and warm humor always made the difficult times seem much less so. He wasn't too impressed with my writing at the time and he said so. Miffed, I decided to do something about it. I became a journalist. Thanks John.
2/25/2007 - Julie Knittel PIeri
Man, that John Hazard was brave. He taught Current Literature, a course in which our texts came from periodicals. So Mr. Hazard read only days or weeks ahead of us in selecting the curriculum. Even as an inexperienced teenager I knew this teacher was unusual in his self-confidence and especially in his confidence in his students. He had no idea what he would get out of us! But to this day that class is my gold standard for representing intellectual courage and the potential represented in teenagers who work with a positive guiding hand. And Mr. Hazard is still a role model for developing people--one I use every day in my job as President of a startup.
3/27/2006 - Charlene Li
I will forever be grateful to Mr. Hazard for introducing me to "The Prarie Home Companion". He showed how mastery of langugage stemmed from great storytelling, and that great stories came from living large lives.
3/9/2006 - Susan Iskiwitch
Mr. Hazard was the best English teacher I have ever had. His sense of humor was always appreciated. He welcomed me as a new student (and gave me my first A at Cranbrook) and inspired me to attend a small college in the middle of nowhere in Ohio.
3/9/2006 - Mark Frankel
I had Mr. Hazard as an English teacher in my junior year. He had a great sense of humor and we enjoyed visits from his bulldog. However, I was clueless and could not write to save my life. At year's end I had shown little improvement and Mr. Hazard insisted that I attend his Summer writing workshop. Most teachers would have passed me on to the next level, not Mr. Hazard. Now, as a litigator, I write for a living. It never could have happened if Mr. Hazard had not shown an interest. Thank you, Mr. Hazard.
2/9/2006 - Carl Klemmer
John Hazard made me enjoy English! The nerve, I had never gotten better than a C until I had him. And he did it with romantic poets, no less.
12/27/2005 - Benjamin Keyserling
Mr. Hazard was quite possibly the best English teacher I ever had. I must say, my current college English class is much less difficult. I feel lucky to have been in Mr. Hazard's "graduating class", because of the laid-back environment of classroom discussion and (occasionally passionate) debate.
9/11/2005 - Todd Fink
Mr. Hazard was a thoughtful advisor and helped nurture my (then emerging) writing abilities.
9/11/2005 - Tara Scott
When I reached a crossroads in my academic & professional pursuits,it was the memory of Mr. Hazard's hearty encouragement of my writing that guided my exploration of my voice & "true" passion.
9/11/2005 - Nathan Bethell
John Hazard taught me how to write a paper, and taught me that it was okay to hate great literature, as long as I could express clearly my reasons for doing so.