Teacher: Social Studies
By: Morgan Blechschmid and Chloe Rojak
December 2, 2021
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Jeff Lavinder! Before coming to Brooklyn, Lavinder taught math in Dayton, Ohio, for five years. He then continued his teaching career in the Brooklyn City School District, making this year his twenty-fifth year of teaching. Lavinder is not just a teacher; he also has experience in coaching many sports such as baseball, basketball, golf, and softball.
Q: What are the benefits of working at the Brooklyn School compared to the high school?
A: “I’ve actually never worked at the high school, but during the time I’ve spent teaching here at the Brooklyn School, I’ve worked with a great teaching staff and hard-working students.”
Q: What subject is your favorite to teach and why?
A: “I taught seventeen years of math. I really enjoyed teaching math. After teaching two years of social studies, I’m really starting to enjoy it. Between the two, it’s pretty hard to say which is my favorite, but currently, I’m really enjoying teaching social studies.”
Q: What valuable life lessons has teaching taught you?
A: “A valuable lesson teaching has taught me is just like in real life, you get to meet a lot of different people. I enjoy making connections with my students and hopefully having a positive impact on their lives. It’s always nice to have former students come back and visit you and tell you that you have made an impact on their lives.”
Q: What is your favorite part of teaching?
A: “My favorite part of teaching is the daily interaction with the students and the staff and seeing the students’ improvement from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year.”
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: “My favorite childhood memory was when my seventh grade basketball team went undefeated, and I made two free throws to clinch the championship.”
Q: Where did you go to college, and why did you choose that school?
A: “I went to Wright State University, which is in the Dayton area of Ohio. I chose that school because of their campus. I thought it was cool that it was connected by underground tunnels, and I could go to class without putting on a coat in the winter!”
Q: What is your favorite sport to coach, and what is your favorite sport to watch?
A: “My favorite sport to coach is basketball, but my favorite sport to watch is baseball.”
Q: What is your favorite appetizer, main course, and dessert?
A: “My favorite appetizer is nachos, my favorite main course is lasagna, and my favorite dessert is cherry cheesecake.”
Thank you, Mr. Lavinder. We wish you a great year in teaching and in coaching!
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 