Enrico Basso has been a respected teacher at WHS for the past eight years. After teaching in the Social Studies department and primarily teaching AP Government and Politics for nearly a decade, Basso made a significant career decision. He has decided to become a pastor.

Basso has been a consistent member of his faith for over a decade. As the pandemic hit, he started attending Calvary Chapel in Old Bridge, where he became an active member. This past summer, Basso joined the pastoral staff at the church. He began working on many of their summer events and eventually started working full time. On Aug. 1, the Calvary Chapel asked Basso if he would be interested in stepping away from teaching to continue his work with them.

“After some time, I thought it through and talked about it with my family, and everything kind of played out the way that it did. I resigned on the fifth of August,” said Basso.

Following his resignation, he worked with Social Studies Teacher Kimberly Bennett, his replacement, to make sure that she could properly teach the course he knew so well. Basso expressed that he planned to leave WHS quietly, but as many staff members reached out, and Hi’s Eye requested an interview, he realized the impact he had made on the school.

Students who signed up for AP Government and Politics were kept in the dark about Basso’s departure until schedules were released.

“I was pretty disappointed when I heard that Basso was not teaching anymore. It all worked out though because the new teacher, Mrs. Bennett, is great,” said senior AP Government and Politics student Michael Murphy.

As a public school teacher, Basso had to find a way to help his students while still respecting the limitations within the school system. Teachers are generally discouraged from talking to students about religion. But, in his new position, things are different.

“I always took very seriously that my job was never to impose political or religious views in the classroom, and I prided myself on that. Of course, there were times where in my heart I knew what I’d love to express or to say especially when kids come to you and they are in the throes of life. Being here now as a pastor I am kind of freed up,” he explained.

Basso expressed that his time at WHS was spent crafting the skills of teaching and communicating, which he now gets to use as a pastor.

“I didn’t leave teaching, I left the subject I was teaching. I have shifted gears. Instead of teaching people about George Washington, I’m teaching them about God,” he said.

Basso’s official title is Pastoral Intern. He works with the pastoral staff to accomplish all the duties of a pastor. He runs Bible studies, makes house calls, works with youth groups and eventually he will be a full pastor.

As Basso sets forth on this new journey, he is positive about what the future holds. He said, “There are things in life that are bigger than your- self that are worthy of pursuit. It’s a calling that has been put on my life, and sometimes you have to lay down things that were great to do something that you’re supposed to do.”