Mr. Lowe’s energy was one of the things that his colleagues and students remembered most about him. Mentee and colleague Patti Minegishi Delacruz called it “magnetic,” 2017-18 Executive Editor Harrison Witt said his energy made him “an absolute joy to be around” and countless others said it was the thing they remembered most about him.

At one point in time, we were the only Black men teaching in the English department, and as a young Black male just beginning my teaching career, Mr. Lowe would share his experiences with race at ETHS and what I could expect.

In the fall of 2017, Lowe and The Evanstonian staff published six issues together prior to Lowe’s early retirement in December of that year. Though Lowe was often absent due to recurring health issues, the staff was able to produce more issues than in a typical year as Lowe continued to push his students to create the best product possible, just like he had for the 30 years prior.

My time at ETHS would not have been the same without Lowe. He remains a constant inspiration in my life and will forever be one of my greatest mentors. I wouldn’t be who I am today without him and I can only hope to leave a legacy as great as his.

I loved Lowe. I love Lowe — his off-kilter humor, candy jar, uninspiring inspirational posters, blunt emails, chaotic power points, current event competitions and all. I wish I had told him this, I am sure everyone who knew Lowe wished they had told him this.

As, as I look at the world, the future, and the world we are trying to build, my radical hope, my radical belief in community guides me. Sparked with you. Guided by you. You guide me home. 

As the years went on, we found ourselves on many adventures.  We drove together in those large vans to St. Louis and Nashville for National Conventions with students.  Rodney drove the bus to state, always hilariously struggling with the alarms on the bus every year, while the students made their jokes about it. I am sad that I was not able to go down with him the last couple of times because Rodney was worried I’d be giving birth on that small bus, and let’s be honest that worry was valid, but we did laugh about it.

When I think about Mr. Rodney Lowe, I think of his smile, the way he could make you feel that the conversation you were having with him at that moment was important. And our conversations often were. To...

Your teaching style was, how shall I say this, unique. Whether it be the competitive current events quizzes that were supposed to happen weekly, but really occurred only about once a month or the cringy transitions on your powerpoints, you had your own system. 

I’m so proud to be able to say that I was a part of something so special at ETHS. When Mr. Lowe retired, I was saddened that I wouldn’t be able to learn more from him. As a senior and one of the Executive Editors, I wished he had been there to see my growth and hoped that he was proud of everything our staff had accomplished since his retirement.