Many people know Mr.Kennedy, either as their Model UN teacher or as their history teacher, but there’s much more to him than just that. Mr.Kennedy has been working as a teacher for 8 years, but that wasn’t his original career path. He teaches history – but he also has a history of his own.
When Mr.Kennedy worked at a bank, he didn’t feel as though it was a fitting place for him. He describes himself as an open person who needs to be working with many people. He found that working at a bank was “cold and impersonal,” which is unlike him and the practices he adores.
Throughout the 8 years he’s been at Gateway, he says, “My favorite part of teaching here is being a part of a great community.”
Mr.Kennedy himself has built a great community of students who love learning and coming to class. As one of his students, the atmosphere Mr.Kennedy has created in his classroom is a safe space where I can be myself, joke with friends, and feel safe asking questions when I’m confused about a subject. When asking my peers, they all agreed with that statement.
Mr.Kennedy is not only a busy teacher – but he has a busy life outside of school. He says his day-to-day is chaotic:
Sometimes the mind of a teacher matches the amount of tabs we have open on our computers.
— Mr. Kennedy
Yes, Mr.Kennedy teaches World History, but he never fails to connect the history of the world to the present. During his class, he manages to almost always bring ancient history full circle and connect it to something in the modern world. He mentions small tidbits from his own life and the world we live in to help students understand the material being discussed/taught. He may not always think it, but he is a great teacher and a great person!
Thank you for being a light in our school Mr. Kennedy!
