Mr. Paul Hamel (dressed up for halloween) staples papers for Freshman World Seminar and AP US History.
We all have had that “first day at a new school” experience. Whether it’s because of moving, changing schools, or just moving up to Brophy, that experience is universal. It’s an experience not just unique to students, however. Just as Brophy brings in a new class of freshmen from a variety of backgrounds each year, it also welcomes a new group of teachers from diverse areas.
Specifically, this year, Brophy has brought in a large class of new teachers from a variety of places. One such teacher is Dr. John Lovell, who teaches in the social studies department. “I was the assistant principal for discipline and attendance at Sunnyslope High School for 11 years,” said Dr. John Lovell. Before then, he also taught at a variety of schools, like Thunderbird, around the Valley. He decided to retire as an assistant principal and return to teaching at Brophy.
Another new teacher is Mr. Paul Hamel, who also teaches in the social studies department. Mr. Hamel has been teaching for 25 years and has taught at many different schools across the world, including spending 4 years in Japan teaching English.
He also worked at Marin Catholic High School for 12 years before ending up at Brophy.
While coming from different backgrounds, both of these teachers identified similarities in their experiences being new at Brophy. “The level of respect students have to authority figures on campus but also for the campus as a whole. There is a shared responsibility and community here that is unique. Everyone takes care of this place and respects this place,” Dr. Lovell said.
Similarly, “I was super impressed by the innovation and kindness of the students,” Mr. Hamel said. Both of these teachers came to identify that amongst Brophy students there was drive and respect for teachers and their campus as a whole.
Another similarity noticed by both teachers was in technology. Mr. Hamel said that part of the reason he came to Brophy was to “check out what the AI programs were like.” He identified a “willingness to engage in what I would call progressive forms of education.” Dr. Lovell agrees. “They are very technologically oriented,” Dr. Lovell said, referring to Brophy students.
Brophy has been a campus known to lead in innovation, most recently with its new AI programs and rules that were implemented.
Being a new teacher can come with a lot of change, too.
“We are like freshmen as well, everything is new to us, we are learning a new culture, set of dynamics, and 125 names,” Mr. Hamel said. He asked that just as teachers give grace to students, students should give grace to newer teachers who are still adjusting. “We are working constantly to keep you guys engaged,” Dr. Lovell said. They both want to be the most effective teachers for students, and they are learning to utilize the new technologies at Brophy to their advantage.