Jamie Heath: Spanish Teacher

Year teaching: 13

Classes: Spanish 1 and 2

Why Spanish: I love Latino culture and heritage, and it’s important for us to learn another language and culture.

Impact on McLean: [I hope to] bring excitement for Spanish [and] be the teacher who always teachers Spanish 1 and represents [the] freshman class.

Fun fact: I played basketball in college for Binghamton University.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 Joseph Dwyer: Social Studies Teacher

Year teaching: 15

Classes: AP Psychology and World History I

Why History: I have a passion for both history and psychology. I think it helps us understand humans better and what are our tendencies are and questions that we all ask about human nature.

Looking forward to: Getting to know the kids better and hopefully making connections so they can better understand [the] subjects.

Fun fact: I have a dog named Pericles, he’s a pug. I don’t have an Instagram account, but my dog does.  

Meghan Giblin: Science Teacher

Year teaching: 8

Classes: Geosystems and AP Environmental Science 

Why Science: I think that learning about and interactions is one of the most practical sciences because you’re living on the planet and you should know how it works.

Looking forward to: New challenges, [with] every new student there [is a] different challenge.

Fun fact: I have a Bryce Harper Home Run Derby ball. 

 Will West: Physical Education Teacher

Year Teaching: 1

Classes: Health and PE, Driver’s Ed. and Personal Fitness

Why PE: I like to get kids away from sitting in desks and doing school stuff all the time. [PE is a] good way to get them moving. I think exercise is important.

Changes to PE: [I try to] make the content as fun as possible [and] using technology, using apps to track our progress.

Fun fact: I’ve never been on an airplane before.

Haley Aguiar: Math Teacher

Year teaching: 4

Classes: Pre-calculus

Why math: Math has a very sequential outline, it can be designed creatively. [Also] it’s the least favorite subject of most students so I enjoy changing their outlook on math. 

Impact on McLean: I really hope to just change the minds of students about mathematics. 

Fun fact: I played seven years of rugby and then I coached and now I referee. 

Lawrence Letkiewicz: English Teacher

Year teaching: 19

Classes: English 10 and English 12 Honors 

Looking forward to: [Getting] to add 150 kids to my extended ‘family.’ I look forward to getting to know each and every one of them.

Impact on McLean: I hope [I] will add a bit of spice to McLean. I am the paprika of this place.

Fun fact: I’ve had a multitude of jobs: waiter in a Chinese restaurant, potato chip truck driver, owned a hot dog truck.