Kaneland High School gym teacher, Tom Dillivan, is known for his singing skills and daily trivia questions. His unique personality has left a lasting impression on Kaneland students and staff. Growing up in small town Spencer, Iowa, Dillivan knew he wanted to become a teacher.

“I knew I wanted to become a teacher because of some of the college professors I had. I also played sports in college and wanted to coach. Teaching and coaching together seemed like a logical solution,” Dillivan said.

Playing a couple sports is an understatement; he competed in basketball, football, track, baseball and tennis during high school and college. Being a multi-sport athlete wasn’t enough for Dillivan, as he took a heavy interest in music.

“I played every sport there was and I was always in the high school choir and glee club. I grew up around music and started singing,” Dillivan said.

Although Dillivan has changed from being that eager high school boy in the past, music is still one of his top priorities in life. Kaneland witnesses his passion for music during his annual homecoming pep rally performance. All eyes are on the gym teacher as he spews out funny lyrics to the tune of a country song. Every year since 2006, Dillivan has captured Kanelands’ attention with his voice and the anticipated show he puts on.

“I’ve always loved singing. Music is life. I think I love music so much because it’s full of emotions,” Dillivan said.

His passion for music is also shared with a love for teaching, coaching, and sales. Dillivan worked for 11 years as a teacher in Iowa. He began teaching history but slowly got into gym class. In order to fully teach gym, Dillivan went back to school to earn his physical education certification.

Surprisingly, he took a break from teaching for 20 years. During that break, he transitioned into sales. As a salesman, Dillivan sold trade show exhibits.

“I love sales; teaching is like sales. Teachers have to sell a product every day, in every class. Teaching and sales both require a lot of interaction with people, and I love to interact with people. The 9/11 attacks made me evaluate life and I decided to get back into teaching because that’s what I love most,” Dillivan said.

Dillivan combines his love of sports with his ability to teach, and enjoys being a coach. One of his favorite moments as a coach was in 1981 when he was coaching a varsity boys basketball team in Lenox, Iowa.

“I had a basketball team behind seven points with 16 seconds to go, and we came back. It was a big game because it was against our bitter rivals. We stole the ball three straight times and scored, and we won the game,” Dillivan said.

He has never stopped coaching. At Kaneland, Dillivan works as the assistant coach on the varsity girls basketball team.

Even though it seems as if he’s been at Kaneland forever, Dillivan has been working at Kaneland for only nine years. After accepting the job offer in 2004, he has grown to appreciate everything the school has to offer.

“I love the kids at Kaneland; the kids here are great. I also enjoy my colleagues because they are such great people and we just have a positive-minded staff,” Dillivan said.

His quirky trivia questions test students’ knowledge as he questions them about historic music and sports events. Dillivan never fails to make the Kaneland students and staff laugh at his famous “funky ostrich call.”

“My funky ostrich call was born one morning during my first hour gym class. They were all being loud so I just made the noise to get their attention, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Dillivan said.

In these nine years, he hasgotten to know great people and made unforgettable memories. Next year marks his last year of teaching before retiring.

Reaching the age of retirement, Dillivan looks at life with an enthusiastic perspective.  He has been through an interesting life and has more plans for retirement.

“In my retirement, I hope to get back to writing more music and I want to learn how to play guitar and piano. I also think I’ll be working part time,” Dillivan said.

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