Donovan McKiddy has been teaching at the High School for three years and teaches three different levels of Spanish.
Inside of the classroom, some of McKiddy’s main responsibilities are making sure students are learning everything that is necessary, while keeping a safe environment.
“My main responsibility is to create a safe environment where my students can feel like they can be their authentic selves. After that, I teach them Spanish, teach them some vocab, how to speak, how to read, how to write, and how to listen,” McKiddy said.
As a teacher, it is important to have a positive environment, especially when it comes to the people you work with. For McKiddy, he appreciates the staff’s main goal being the students.
“My favorite part of working at Crown Point is that I’ve never been around a staff that’s been more professionally focused about teaching the kids and doing the very best job that they can do as teachers,” McKiddy said. “Even more than that is just the relationships I’m able to build with the students and build a little community, and maybe even learn a Spanish word or two along the way.”
Every school processes their day differently, for Crown Point, we participate in a block schedule, meaning almost every day, there is a different order of classes. McKiddy spends time adjusting to his new experience with block scheduling.
“My main challenge is I came from a school that for twelve years, we had what we would call a traditional schedule, so I’m still battling with what day it is, how long is this period, and what period is it,” McKiddy said. “I have it posted on the wall, and I glance at it several thousand times a day. I wish we were traditional every day, because I want to see my students every day.”
McKiddy spends his time outside of the classroom with his family and ensures that he is helping them in every way he is able to.
“When I am not here, I am parenting. I try to be the best dad and husband to my smoking hot wife that I can. I have two kids who are in High School at Chesterton. I have a senior and a freshman, and my wife is a teacher as well, but she teaches at an online school,” McKiddy said.
Overall, McKiddy makes his leading responsibilities creating an environment where students feel safe while learning to their maximum ability. While still juggling everyday life with a wife and kids.
