By Rosie Smith
For many teachers at McNick, teaching has been their first career. However, McNick is also home to those who have chosen teaching as their second career, working previously in a completely different space than education.
Theology teacher Deacon Peter Caccavari shared his past career was in accounting and as a business analyst. Caccavari said his favorite part about accounting was that it was calming, and that “it wasn’t a thinking kind of thing.” Caccavari took after his father, who was in accounting, and became a business analyst because he enjoyed the analytical and puzzling task of it.
Caccavari said when he went to college, he was unsure of his career path, so he started off in accounting, then social work, then English. He said he had found a like for teaching and knew that he would enjoy doing so. Caccavari also said he had never thought about teaching high school, but then a position for McNick opened. Caccavari added that his son had attended McNick and he noticed that many people who went to McNick stayed friends their whole lives: “A place that does that is a special place,” he said. “I really enjoyed the experience of being a McNick parent.”
School librarian and media specialist Mrs. Chelsea Almer said her past career was working as a children’s librarian. She attended library school at The University of Kentucky and after graduating, she started working at The Public Library of Cincinnati Hamilton County. After being a stay-at-home mom, a librarian position opened at Guardian Angels [GA]. After working at GA for 7 years, Almer said she felt up for a “challenge” and wanted to transfer to McNick.
She shared that her favorite part of being a children’s librarian was her love for little kids; she liked being “silly” and being more creative. “I was used to doing story times, finger plays, and picture books. And so, I was pretty nervous to come here but actually it has been wonderful,” she said.
What Almer noticed most about being a high school librarian was a different environment, a different from of librarianship, and the passion the students have.
English teacher Mr. Robert Cornwell said his past career included military service in the Air Force. Cornwell was in the Air National Guard for six years before and during his first year of teaching. He explained that his schedule involved being full time in the summer, and then once a month during his college school year. In total, he spent two and half years in full time status. He said he loved how the Air Force shaped him as a person and the different perspective it provided.
Cornwell said his mother is a teacher, so he knew he wanted to do something similar. He said McNick specifically “checked all my boxes.” He wanted a school with “great faith formation, rigorous academics, and a strong community.”
“I always wanted to be at a school where parents were proud to send their kids, and that kids were proud to be a part of that community, and it fits that perfectly,” he said.
Theatre director Mrs. Leslie Baum said her past career was singing, acting, and dancing on Broadway. Baum said what she loved most about being on Broadway was the people that she worked with. She added that she misses the diversity of being in that environment.
Baum said she became a teacher because, “I like to make theatre; I had to find an outlet for that here in Ohio.” She also added that she wanted something a bit steadier, where she knew the people she worked with. Baum said she liked working with high school students because they come in with a lot of skill already. “I feel like with them I can really develop some interesting and creative theatre that makes people think about life and society. And that’s what theatre is about for me — holding up the mirror and saying, ‘This is who we are, we are all people,’” she said.
French teacher Mrs. Ellen Bungenstock said her past career was as a Human Relations representative and a Peace Corps volunteer. After graduating college, she worked for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Human Relations and Public Relations, writing job descriptions for advanced scientists for the decontamination field. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Bungenstock spent three years abroad in Mauritania, Africa and France, learning about other cultures and bringing American culture to other countries. She also provided technical assistance like building latrines, renovating schools, teaching English and running a girl’s mentoring center. In Africa, Bungenstock also worked with teachers on their pedagogy, which is teaching teachers how to teach, and reforming their way of teaching.
Bungenstock said it was interesting to learn about cultures, to participate in traditions, and “it was better than just getting work done.” “The whole world has hundreds of flavors that we just don’t ever get to experience,” she said.
Bungenstock said she has always known about McNick and went to the Homecoming dances when she was younger. She said she never knew what McNick was about until she began working here. “It took me about a year of being here to see what a blessing all the students are. How amazing, intelligent, poised, thoughtful, compassionate people you guys are. That the staff is all competent and brilliant and dedicated and passionate. McNick is a really special place,” she said.
Now that these teachers are teaching at McNick, they can use their past experiences to enrich the lessons in their classrooms.
The McNicholas Milestone 