After the conclusion of the 2014-2015 school year, several teachers retired from the Revere High School faculty. In the wake of these departures, several new teachers have filled these vacancies. Revere High School welcomed Alice Forney, Jessica Mackey, Michael Pilar, and Joshua Schaefer to the building this school year.

Pilar, a long term substitute in the World Languages department; Mackey, the new family consumer science teacher; Forney, the new choir director; and Schaefer, a new science teacher, have all become a part of the teaching staff at Revere this year.

Forney, the new choir director, discussed her perception of her reception to the school.

“So far I feel that I have been received well. The students are top notch, and the teachers and administration have been very welcoming and helpful,” Forney said.

Mackey, the new family consumer science teacher talked about what motivates her as a teacher.

“I have learned that building relationships with students is just as important as the curriculum itself, and doing so helps me to keep enjoying what I do,” Mackey said.

Pilar discussed his prior teaching experience and where he received his education.

“I studied at Benedict College in Kansas, St. Louis University in Missouri, [and] got my masters degree from Cleveland State. I taught at Shaw High School, Beaumont High School, and Berea High School,” Pilar said.

Pilar also touched upon what he finds difficult as a substitute teacher.

“When you are a teacher you want to be able to help the students. Sometimes if you are subbing for a class and you have no background in that subject matter, when the students ask you a question it is very difficult to say that you have no answer,” Pilar said.

Schaefer, the new science teacher elaborated on the most important lessons that he has learned as a teacher.

“[I learned] that every day that I come to school I have the possibility of changing a student’s life. Whether it is sparking their imagination and leading them towards a career in science or some other field, or just being there to listen to them if need be. Teachers really do have a major effect on their students,” Schaefer said.

Principal of Revere High School Phil King discussed the requirements to become as a teacher at Revere, as Revere is a school of academic tradition.

“[We look for teachers] that have the proper credentials. We also look for those that go above and beyond what is expected of them in the classroom. Another quality that we look for in teachers is that they speak genuinely, they advocate passionately
for what they believed in and they have displayed that behavior prior to being hired,” King said.

King discussed the procedure for gathering information about applicants for a job.

“I do all the preliminary screening. We receive up to a hundred applications so I screen them down to ten or twelve. We then have personal interviews with these candidates and traditionally then narrow it down to three to six people. After this we have a committee come together so they can assess the candidate and see how well his or her goals will fit with the candidates. This community which consists of myself, a department chair, a department member, and the curriculum director
make the final decision on the candidate we will accept,” King said.

The new teachers do not lack experience or purpose. Pilar’s broad teaching experiences aid him in the classroom. Forney has found a way to pursue her love of music, and instill in her students a passion for music. Mackey enjoys finding ways to provide students with the life skills necessary to succeed in life, and Schaefer enjoys providing students with the critical thinking skills that he believes will help students successfully solve problems.