Teacher Highlight: Maurice McGinty Impacts Students at WG

Mr. (Maurice) McGinty is highlighted as a nominee for teacher of the month. Mr. McGinty has been involved in the educational field for a total of 19 years and currently teaches 9th grade ELA. as well as being a soccer coach.
by Talia Banks and Rylee Watson

Mr. McGinty is seen as a relatable and motivating teacher, and many of his students express how he has impacted their education here at WG. Gabriella Charles(9) shares, “He makes teaching a more comfortable place... it's easier for me to learn because he doesn't stress us out about the topics. He makes it relatable, so he can teach things and not make it confusing.” 

Another student, Chris Labowicz (9) agrees, “He's a more entertaining teacher so I feel like I pay more attention in his class more because I’m actually interested.”

Mr. McGinty expresses why he chose high school education, “I really enjoy helping young adults, English has always come easier for me, and I like working with teenagers.” Mr. McGinty has previously taught both middle school and high school students, but he enjoys high school students better because “High School students are slightly more mature than middle school kids; they have mostly gone through puberty and can relate to situations better versus middle school students. [Middle schoolers] are still child-like, like elementary school kids, but want to be adult-like, and they're in that middle ground where it's hard to deal with them, so I think it makes high school a little bit easier to deal with.”

Various students are delighted to be involved in McGinty's class, Nathan Nunn (9) feels as though his teacher is “... a lot different from the other teachers here because they don't teach like he does. Other teachers just hand us work, but Mr. McGinty talks to us and helps us out. He's also really funny, and I feel like he's always involved with us.” 

Addy Larson(10) agrees “He is very interactive with his students and he chooses activities that are hands-on instead of just boring work... He was very chill and very interactive, and he liked to let students work together and he was always there to help if you needed it.” Lastly she states “He definitely had a strong impact on the students, especially me, he was always interacting with us and just helped you through anything.”

As a coach and a teacher, Mr. McGinty has many athletes throughout his classes. He has grown bonds with the students involved with the sports teams at WG. They are able to depend on him for support, stability, and guidance within the classroom and on the fields. Mr. McGinty explains, "I have a really good relationship when it comes to teenagers, and I guess I can just connect with them.”

Throughout Mr. McGinty's classroom he uses his humor and relatability to uphold a light and fun environment for his students. Mr. McGinty provides a stable atmosphere by guiding his students to a good education that will help them for the rest of their journey at WG.  

Mr. McGinty is more than a teacher to his students; he continues to be a mentor, a guide, and a relatable person within his classroom.