Alessia Korvessis | The Chronicle
The beginning of the school year means new things for many, but for this group of staff, the school grounds are anything but new.
This year, five Mason High School (MHS) alumni returned to MHS to be teachers and a counselor in the same place they got their high school education. For these staff members, returning means reuniting with old teachers, sharing past experiences with current students and leaving a mark on the place they spent their teenage years.
Class of 2022 graduate Rachel Bair returned to teach English I and III. After spending her high school years in the same halls she now walks as an educator, she said coming back to MHS felt like second nature.
“Honestly, Mason was a dream as a student, and I admired my teachers so much,” Bair said. “So many of them are still here, and I really want to be that teacher for somebody else.”
Bair said returning has brought back many familiar memories, like clubs and football games. But stepping into the role of teacher rather than student has given her a chance to make her own impact on the school.
“I worked very hard to be able to come back here and live this dream,” Bair said. “[Mason has] always been home for me, but now I get to make my own mark on Mason High School, and that’s exciting to me.”
While Bair could have predicted taking the education route, Class of 2022 American and World History teacher Brianna Kelly had a different journey. Kelly said her experiences as a student provided her with a new perspective and appreciation for the other side of the classroom.
“I didn’t think I was going to become a teacher, so I think my high school self would be very surprised,” Kelly said. “As a student, I gave a little bit of attitude, but now being in the teacher’s spot I see why they do the things they do.”
Although Kelly was not originally planning to become a teacher, she was also drawn back to MHS by her experiences as a student. By coming back, she was hoping to replicate the same motivation to them.
“The community was so good when I was in high school,” Kelly said. “They made me feel like I could do anything, and so I want to give that same feeling to the students.”
Like Kelly, Class of 2021 graduate Annie Buquo also came back because of the people at MHS. Buquo is serving as a long term sub this year for Honors English I and Creative Writing teacher Amanda Bross. Buquo said her return was motivated by MHS being a place where she can be her true self, and where she is truly comfortable to teach.
“Coming back here was so easy for me,” Buquo said. “I never feel bad for being myself, whereas in other places I would feel like I had trouble fitting in or finding my people.”
Buquo said MHS’s support system has always been strong, even from when she was a student there. As the largest high school in Ohio, Buquo said the pressure and responsibilities that come with MHS can be hard to navigate, but doable because of its support system.
“I would say when you are taking six classes, working, playing a sport and trying to be a good friend and family member, that is so much,” Buquo said. “But I feel supported here, and we have so many resources.”
Although some of the new teachers are experiencing their first year as educators, former Mason Middle School (MMS) teacher Danielle Peters decided to make a switch. Peters previously taught Physical Science at MMS, but recently switched to the role of MHS counselor. As a Class of 2004 graduate, Peters said her connections with staff from when she was a student impacted her.
“Mr. Affatato was my coach in high school, and he had a huge impact on me and how to interact with and be an advocate for students,” Peters said. “That is one thing that I want to take into this role as a counselor.”
As an alumna, Peters has witnessed first hand the growth of MHS over the years. Since she graduated, the school has almost doubled in size, as well as in diversity.
“I love going through Mason and putting my kids through Mason too,” Peters said. “They have the opportunity to get to know a lot of different people from different backgrounds.”
Class of 2022 graduate Ava Franke now teaches Algebra I and Geometry. Franke said her high school experience drew her back to MHS, hoping to have the same supportive and innovative culture she encountered as a student.
“I loved [MHS] when I was a student, and I knew I wanted a similar culture,” Franke said. “I wanted some place that would support my ideas of wanting to do innovative things, [and go] against the grain.”
Franke said that desire for innovation was reinforced when she experienced other schools during her teacher education, making her realize how unique Mason’s approach was.
“[Mason] is so progressive in terms of student engagement, being interactive and personalized learning. It is so student centered compared to other schools that are more traditional,” Franke said. “After doing a bunch of observations at different schools in college, what I realized was that [there] is no place like Mason.”
