As the school year kicks off, it’s not just students who are adjusting to new routines and classes—teachers are too. This year, our school is welcoming 15 new staff members and teachers.
These fresh faces bring diverse ideas and experiences, enriching the H-F community. With their unique backgrounds and approaches to education, they all contribute something different and valuable.
There is a new face in the science department, science teacher Caitlin Gallagher, who has deep roots in teaching and a passion for making science relevant to everyday life.
“Teaching was always in my blood,” she shared. It was only after she worked as a teaching assistant in college that she realized how much she missed it after graduating and “haven’t looked back since.”
In the classroom, Gallagher wants to do more than just teach science. “I want my students to learn about life,” she explained. “Science is all around us, you have to be able to interact with the world and understand things.”
Apart from teaching, Gallagher stays active and adventurous. “I am big into group fitness and am an aerial instructor as well,” she shared. She also loves traveling and sports, especially football and bowling.
She embraces her silly and quirky side of life saying, “Life is fun—you’ve got to embrace the silliness and dorkiness.” Gallagher is all about embracing the community at H-F.
Her message to her future students is simple: “Ask questions.” She values curiosity and believes questions are a vital part of learning.
Another addition to H-F’s staff this year is teacher John Manthey in the English department, who was born and raised in Orland Park. He went to Carl Sandburg High School, and like many students, he grew up not liking school. “ I was never the biggest fan of school, and I never really wanted to be a teacher until I was 22 years old,” he said.
Initially, Manthey pursued sports broadcasting but discovered his passion in education after coaching basketball. It only took him a couple of practices before he realized, “This is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
What led Manthey to the English side of education was his appreciation for it and how versatile he thinks it is for any career you want to pursue. He said, “I think the arts of reading and writing are skills you need no matter what profession you go into. You need to read and write on a certain level.”
In his free time, Manthey loves watching sports and wearing his fun socks. He believes in the power of positivity. “I’m really big with optimism and positivity. Sometimes the one compliment you give someone is the only compliment they hear that day” he states.
He asks his future students to spread the same positivity that he does. “Spreading that positivity and always giving complaints your high school year sets up who you are for the rest of your life” Manthley ends with.
Lastly, Rockeya Wilson, a counselor at H-F, is also new this year. She was born and raised here in Chicago, and originally worked as a school psychologist at Bloom High School.
What attracted her to the school was the supportive environment, and the friendly staff at H-F. “I came to H-F because of the staff, the staff is so student-oriented and the environment here is welcoming” Wilson says.
This introduction to our teachers highlights their diverse backgrounds, and dedication to making this school year great. And this is just a small introduction to some of the many new teachers we have here. Make sure to say hi to any new faces you see in the hallway and give them a nice welcome to H-F.
