Jason McKenzie taught his sophomore academic English class about the Pit and the Pendulum during the first weeks of school. During third period he worked on his computer.
Jason McKenzie
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve been given about teaching?
A: I think the best advice I have been given about teaching is to keep your focus on the kids and assuming it’s all about them.
Q: What made you choose to teach at AAHS?
A: I wanted to work a large and diverse student body.
Q: When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a teacher?
My eleventh grade year, I had an English teacher that really inspired me.
Q: What is your favorite part of teaching so far? Why?
A: I really enjoy seeing the kids have the Aha moment, when you see everything finally click. Helping them get there to that point.
Q: Who inspired you to become a teacher?
A: Mr. Shoe my eleventh grade year
Q: What college did you go to?
I got my undergraduate degree at Arizona State University and my graduate at Mississippi University
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: I enjoy reading, running and listening to my record collection.
Q: Why did you choose the subject that you are teaching?
A: I believe that English is an important subject because it is really how to communicate and how to think.
Q: As a student, I know I tend to get nervous for the first weeks of school. As a teacher in a new school, do you feel that sense of nervousness you once felt as a student?
A: There’s a little bit but for the most part, it’s my tenth year teaching, so I am not that nervous. Going to a new school district I certainly am.
Q: Is there something you would want to do during your teaching career? Ex: coaching a sport, head of a club etc.
A: When I was at Philipsburg I coached cross country and track, so I am hoping to do that at Altoona.