90-Year-Old Teacher Earns World Record After 67 Years

Some people dream of retirement, but Beverly Hannett-Price dreams of Monday mornings with her students.

At 90 years old, the Detroit Country Day School teacher just earned a Guinness World Record for the longest teaching career ever documented. She's been shaping young minds at the same school for 67 years, and she's not stopping anytime soon.

The school surprised Hannett-Price with the award during a special ceremony in February 2026. Former students shared stories about how she changed their lives, including Emmy Award winner Courtney B. Vance, who credits her as a formative influence in his education.

"I have no plans for retirement. I love this school," Hannett-Price said as she accepted her record certificate. Her voice carried the same energy that has welcomed thousands of students through her classroom door since 1959.

Think about what the world looked like when Hannett-Price started teaching. Eisenhower was president. Alaska and Hawaii had just become states. The average home cost $12,000.

Through decades of change, she remained constant. She watched technology transform from chalkboards to smartboards. She saw curriculum evolve and teaching methods revolutionize. Yet her commitment to students never wavered.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine isn't just the record itself. It's what the record represents.

Hannett-Price didn't teach for 67 years because she couldn't find anything else to do. She taught because she found her calling and refused to let it go. Every September for nearly seven decades, she chose to show up for students who needed her.

Her former students didn't just send cards. They showed up to celebrate her, proving that great teachers create ripples that last lifetimes. When someone like Courtney B. Vance returns to honor his teacher, it shows the profound impact one dedicated educator can have.

At 90, she still feels the pull of purpose that brought her to teaching in her twenties. That kind of sustained passion is rare and beautiful.

The best part? Somewhere in Detroit right now, students are learning from a living legend who loves her job as much today as she did when Buddy Holly topped the charts.