The students at Detroit Country Day School thought they were filing into an ordinary assembly. Instead, they witnessed a moment decades in the making.
Beverly Hannett-Price, a 90-year-old English teacher who has spent more than half a century in the classroom, was honored with a Guinness World Record for the longest career as a female language teacher. The recognition came as a complete surprise — to her and to nearly everyone else in the room.
A lifetime spent in one classroom community
Hannett-Price has taught at Detroit Country Day School for more than 67 consecutive years. Generations of students have passed through her classroom, many of them carrying her lessons far beyond grammar and essays.
During the Feb. 2 assembly, a staff member revealed the true purpose of the gathering, announcing her place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Hannett-Price was presented with a framed certificate as applause filled the room.
She later said she was stunned by the moment — and quick to add that retirement isn’t on her radar.
The ripple effect of a great teacher
Over the decades, Hannett-Price has taught thousands of students, some of whom returned to campus just to celebrate her achievement. Among them was actor Courtney B. Vance, who traveled from Los Angeles to attend the surprise ceremony.
He credited her with shaping his ability to write and express ideas clearly, a skill he said stayed with him long after graduation. His presence underscored what many in the room already knew: her influence didn’t end when students left school.
Family pride, seen everywhere
Hannett-Price’s granddaughter, Charlotte Cook, was also in attendance. She shared that outings with her grandmother often turn into impromptu reunions with former students eager to say hello.
Those encounters, Cook said, have shown her how deeply one person can affect an entire community — and inspired her to want to leave a similar mark in her own life.
Teaching as a way of being
Asked about her longevity, Hannett-Price points not to discipline or routine, but to love — for teaching, for students, and for the school itself.
Her philosophy is simple and steady. She encourages students to be fully themselves, to remain open to others, and to approach life with curiosity rather than fear. It’s advice that has aged as well as she has.
Why it resonates now
In an era when careers are increasingly fragmented and burnout is common, Hannett-Price’s story stands out for its continuity. It’s a reminder that meaningful work, done with care and purpose, can span generations.
At 90, with a world record to her name and a classroom still waiting, Beverly Hannett-Price isn’t reflecting on an ending. She’s still very much in the middle of the story.
