By Sam B., 6th Grade, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
For the 2018-2019 school year, Krieger Schechter Day School hired experienced teachers to join the faculty. Among them is Dan McIntyre, physical education (P.E.) teacher, who blends fun and skill with proper discipline to push students to reach their potential.
McIntyre taught P.E. at many Maryland schools prior to joining KSDS. With 20 years of experience, he joined the KSDS faculty because it offered him an opportunity to teach in a Jewish Day School, a completely different environment than his previous schools. He especially enjoys working with kids and teaching new material. “I love watching kids grow, learn, and improve,” he explained.
“My favorite part of teaching is watching kids in a different light,” he said. “The gym is completely different place than the classroom, and it gives the students a chance to shine.”
McIntyre’s favorite unit is soccer. He has abundant soccer experience; in fact, he played for intercollegiate teams at Essex Community College and Wingate University. Thus, he has advice and experience to share with students, so they can succeed in soccer.
McIntyre has already connected to his new students. According to Jonah S., a sixth Grade KSDS student, “Whenever something is going wrong, he helps us and gets us back on our feet.”
Jonah added, “He pushes students. If we are not succeeding at an activity, he will tell us to get back at it and work harder so we will do well the next time!”
Additionally, McIntyre understands the importance of resilience both on and off the court. He has a go-getter kind of attitude that rubs off on his students. One time in gym class, when a student was not satisfied with his athletic performance, McIntyre approached him and assured the student that making mistakes is part of the learning process. The student quickly rose from the bench and rejoined the activity.
McIntyre’s advice for new teachers is to create a fun atmosphere where students are excited to return for the next class session. He is an outstanding addition to the KSDS faculty.
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