Many High Schools are now starting to hire younger teachers as the years go on. This brings up many questions; do new teachers have a lot to learn from older ones? Are there any teaching styles that older ones use that could help the younger ones? New to La Plata High School this year is Mr. Modleski, also known as Mr.Mods. Mods is an English 2 teacher fresh out of College. Another new teacher is Ms. Becker, the 2013-2014 year is her second year as a Biology teacher. We also have experienced teachers such Ms. Getchen, a gym teacher for 22 years and Mr. Barry, a social studies teacher and a soccer coach who’s been teaching at La Plata for 9 years.
Mods is from Buffalo New York, and attended Suny Oswego College where he majored in Adolescence education and English. How do teachers find their way to La Plata? Mods said he went to a job fair in New York. “I liked the Rustic taste and the small town, also I loved that it is close to D.C.” What pulled Mods in was the open position as Varsity Football coach because he really wanted to express his passion for the sport. Working at La Plata has been his first teaching job.
He knew he wanted to be a teacher midway through college; although it didn’t immediately come to him. “I learned that I can have an influence on future generations.” Modleski made it known that once he figured out teaching was for him, it was definitely high school he wanted, because high schoolers are the upcoming adults.
Modleski really loves La Plata and said his first year has been really good so far. The highlight of his year was coaching the football team because he made an outstanding connection with the players.
Ms. Becker is from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and went to Duquesne University. She was a Biology Major and received her masters in science education.
Becker came to La Plata simply because of the job opportunity, as she came here straight out of college. “I was very scared but excited.” Becker said she has wanted to be a teacher since she was very young. She used to always play with the teacher sets with her friends when she was little and that triggered her passion.
“My first year was awesome.” Becker said her year was very stressful because college didn’t really prepare her for a real job. Her second year so far has been much better; she loves it, loves the kids and loves the experience. As many kids at La Plata love the new teachers and find them fun and exciting, most kids favorite teachers are the ones that have been here the longest. Ms. Getgen has been a gym teacher for 22 years here at La Plata high school and loves it! When we asked her if she has ever taught anywhere else, her response was “Always here, always gym.”
Ms. Getgen teachers all grades from 9th-12th, but confessed that she really enjoys the freshman the most. “I love their enthusiasm and being able to help them and show them the way through high school.” She said about the ninth graders. Getgen said her favorite part of being a gym teacher is watching the students improve and grow up throughout high school. Since shes been teaching at La Plata for 22 years, we figured Getgen must have a teaching method that really works. “High enthusiasm, energy, and expectations every day,” she said, adding that “I can’t” is never an option. Getgen loves La Plata and the students, staff, and families all contribute to her great experience here.
Another experienced teacher here at La Plata is history teacher Mr. Barry. Teaching all level classes including AP, he is also the girls’ varsity soccer coach. Along with Getgen, Barry has always been at La Plata and has enjoyed all of his nine years so far. He said coaching soccer has really contributed to that. It was his second year when Mr. Butler called him asking for an assistant.
Four years later he took the title of head coach. “It gives me the opportunity to get to know students and teaching other things besides history,” Barry explains why he enjoys coaching. Out of all the teachers here at La Plata, it is obvious the staff and community is enjoyable and creates a great learning environment. New teachers are learning as they go and taking it all in, as the experienced teachers are continuing their successful ways teaching the students at La Plata.
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