Humans of Berlin – new staff edition

Photo courtesy of Teresa Barger '24

Photo courtesy of Teresa Barger ’24

Teresa Barger, Online Editor

Have you taught at another school before? If so, what makes Berlin different from other buildings you’ve been in?

“Yes, I have,” Mr. Gunn said. “Berlin is an extraordinary place. It is somewhere that academic excellence, culture, and positivity radiate through the halls.”

“Berlin has quite a bit more school spirit,” Mr. Vogel said.

“Yes, I taught at Hyatts Middle School and Liberty High School, and I think definitely the school culture,” Mr. Seed said. “The family, the most spirited school in America, all that is very different from others that I’ve been to.”

“I have taught for 8 years at Marion Harding High School before here,” Mr. Pace said. “What makes Berlin so different is the positive culture that seems to be in every corner of the building. Other places have positivity, but it just seems like the whole place here was built on that positive culture.”

“I have taught for Olentangy for my entire career,” Profe Huber said. “This is my 18th year teaching. I have been at Liberty HS for my whole career, except for the 2020-2021 school year, when I taught CDL (Committed Distance Learning), and this year, when I’m split between Berlin and Liberty. Berlin’s feeling of family and its school spirit definitely stand out for me!”

“I have taught at another school before,” Profe Finnearty said. “What makes Berlin different is immense school pride that everyone here has- both staff and students.”

 

Upon first impression, what about Berlin stood out to you?

“The people; the positive attitudes of the students and staff,” Mr. Seed said.

“I would say, compared to the other schools I’ve been in, the teachers really love to work together,” Mr. Colburn said. “There’s a lot of collaboration that takes place and people are generally more positive and happy to be here. The students have been really awesome, they want to be here, they want to learn, they want to be engaged in what’s happening in the school.”

“The pride and culture are something that stood out,” Mr. Gunn said. “Right when I walked in it was like I had already been a part of the family for several years.”

“What stood out to me about Berlin was and still is the overall support of everyone,” Mr. Pace said. “Everyone here looks out for and supports others that are here and it’s really cool.”

“The VERY first thing that struck me is how difficult it is to navigate due to Berlin being a mirror image of Liberty,” Profe Huber said. “You’d think that would make it easier, but it’s actually really tough! I think I have it figured out now! On a deeper level, the school spirit and sense of community was the first thing that struck me about Berlin. It’s a little overwhelming, but in a good way!”

 

What is something about you that no one at Berlin knows yet?

“Something about me that nobody at Berlin knows yet is that I have a Sister who is a Senior at Liberty HS and she wishes that she went to Berlin,” Mr. Gunn said.

“I have an identical twin brother,” Mr. Pace said.

“Something that no one at Berlin knows about me is that I grew up and went to high school with Joe Burrow (Bengals quarterback),” Profe Finnearty said.

 

What have the students at Berlin taught you?

“I think they’ve reminded me that it’s possible for students to have fun and learn at the same time, it’s not one or the other,” Mr. Seed said.

“The students have taught me what a positive culture looks like,” Mr. Gunn said. “As soon as I walked in the doors, everyone was excited to see me and offered to be volunteers in my classroom. This school is something special.”

“The students at Berlin have taught me about community,” Profe Huber said. “They have really welcomed me, despite not knowing me at all. I also teach a lot of freshmen, and while they’re new to the school also, they have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome.”

“The students at Berlin have taught me to have fun in the classroom,” Profe Finnearty said.

“That the school environment can be fun,” Mr. Vogel said.