Oberstudienrat Friedrich HIEGER, senior teacher at our school, retires

Our esteemed colleague Friedrich HIEGER entered his well-deserved retirement at the beginning of the school year 2021/22. With Fritz HIEGER, we are losing a very valuable element of the teaching staff that is not so easy to replace.

After completing his studies (English and German) at the KFU in Graz, Fritz HIEGER completed his teaching internship at the BG and BRG Gleisdorf. But shortly afterwards, in September 1985, he came to our school as a contract teacher. In the school year 1988-89 he was given a long-term position and a few years later (in 1991) he was given a definite position at our school. In autumn 1993 he completed the training course for support teachers and thus supervised and accompanied many young teachers during their practical training. Of course, he also gave us one or two good tips on how to fill vacancies at our school.

Like almost all young colleagues, Fritz HIEGER worked for many years as an educator at our schools. He was a very valuable and valued member of our team of educators. The combination of teacher and educator was certainly very challenging, but for our students it was a great advantage.

For more than thirty-five years Fritz HIEGER actively and positively shaped our everyday school life, including the further development of our school. Together with his colleague Josef PARMETLER, he had a strong influence on the English-language tourism college and contributed to its further development in a very qualitative way. His respectful and binding tone with the young adults at the tourism college was more than exemplary. Fritz HIEGER was also very uncomplicated when it came to planning lessons, whether it was the Hotel Management School, the Higher Institute for Tourism or the Tourism College, he taught in all branches of our school with great commitment and motivation. As head of class, he has guided and accompanied numerous classes with great care.

His tireless commitment to many school events was more than exemplary. Whether it was the opening service or the graduation ceremony, anniversaries or school festivals – one could always rely on his musical, vocal and content-related support. And whenever there was a need, Fritz HIEGER spontaneously picked up the guitar or the microphone.

His educational work, however, went far beyond our schools. For many years, Fritz HIEGER was involved in the state and national working group for the subject German. In the course of this activity, he was also jointly responsible for the training and further education of our young colleagues.

In addition to his work as a teacher at our schools, Fritz HIEGER was also active as a trainer in adult education during the summer holidays. Together with our emeritus colleague Gerhard EBNER, he worked very successfully for Crystal Cruises for many years. Gerhard EBNER imparted his competences in the field of wine and cheese, Fritz HIEGER focused on communication and conflict management. Fritz HIEGER was also in demand as a lecturer during our annual internal school training courses (the so-called “Herbstakademien”).

Fritz HIEGER was always highly esteemed by the entire staff, his calm approach to questions and problems often gave us security and support. And his calm and balanced character often helped us in difficult moments to find good solutions.

In his new chapter of life, he will finally have more time for his dear family and his hobbies. He will certainly spend more time with his grandchildren, pursue his small farming and forestry business more intensively, devote himself to his hunting passion in the role of gamekeeper and guardian and hopefully make more music again. We are already looking forward to one or the other visit to our school. Thank you, dear Fritz, for your commitment, your professional and pedagogical competence, your helpfulness, your professional advice and of course for your friendship!