Gary Erlandson’s workplace is filled with vocabulary tests, books on composition and poetry, and copies of movies such as Julius Caesar. It’s not quite “Cheers,” but everybody knows his name, including the students who say “hey, Mr. Erlandson” in the halls and his boss, who’s not really sure what to call him.

“Should I call him Mr. Erlandson or should I call him Gary?” said Mary Holtorf, director of Austin Catholic Schools, about the question she’s asked herself. “But he’s never made it uncomfortable, so that’s good.”

You see, Holtorf was once an English student of Erlandson’s, who has been teaching at Pacelli High School since 1966.

His 43rd graduation will be held Wednesday.

“I think it’s an excellent school,” he said. “It had been long before I came, and hopefully it will continue to do those same good things for students long after I move on.”

Wednesday at Queen of Angels Church, 7 p.m.,

On Monday, he talked about his career, how the school’s student body used to be much larger, the change in technology over the years and the 1992 state champion basketball team, which he coached.

A high school and college graduate from South Dakota, Erlandson moved to Lyle in 1966 before moving to Austin five years later.

When he started, he recalled, he was one of about 10 English teachers spread out between roughly 700 students. Today, Pacelli has two English teachers for roughly 80 students.

Erlandson said he attributes the decrease in the student body with the increase of the average age of the county. The older the population, the less students there are.

“We just don’t have that many students in town,” he said.

Over the years, Erlandson has had to work with the change of technology, from typewriters to computers to teaching in the age where most students have cell phones.

He said it hasn’t bothered him much and seems to take it all in stride.

“I can use a computer for what I need to get done,” he said. “I don’t have a cell phone, and I don’t want one. They can’t be used in class … Most students are pretty good about it.”

Erlandson said he’s stayed at Pacelli all these years because it’s a good school, and he enjoys teaching English. He said he only expected to be there for four or five years, but that turned into one decade and one decade eventually turned into four.

“It’s been a decision I’ve never been sorry about,” he said. “English gives you such an opportunity to express yourself. It’s kind of an eye opener for a lot of students.”

His career has included more than teaching. Erlandson was the head coach of the Pacelli High School boys basketball team that won the Class A state championship in 1992. His family made him a ring to commemorate the occasion, and when asked if he’s proud of that moment, he doesn’t hesitate.

“You betcha,” he said. “And the guys who did it.”

Erlandson doesn’t know what kind of legacy he’s left with his students over the years.

“I don’t have any idea what that might be,” he said. “First of all, I don’t have the desire to be the best friend of a 17 or 18-year-old kid. I can be friendly, but that ends when the school day ends.”

One visit to Pacelli, though, and the impact Erlandson has made on the school is clear. He’s made a big one.

“He’s seen a lot of kids graduate,” Holtorf said. “I can’t believe all the lives he’s touched.”

Those lives include Erin Evans, a 2001 Pacelli graduate, who’s now the school’s secretary.

“He was a real good teacher, and even now, I really enjoy working with him,” she said.

Pacelli’s graduation begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Queen of Angels church in Austin.

Erlandson, who said he plans on teaching for at least one more year, offered this advice to the Class of 2009.

“You set your goals high and work hard to reach those goals,” he said. “And be the most you can be, using your talents to get there.”