Second Lives

UAHS staff share summer plans and a few outgoing words.

BY STELLA GOFF ’25

Students often associate tests, quizzes, and grades as being the extent of teachers’ lives outside of the classroom. However, this is far from the truth. The human-side of the staff, that students interact with every

Pulling out a few maps this summer, social studies teacher and basketball coach John Staley has a break full of big plans and new freedoms. This is Staley’s first summer that will not be spent coaching basketball, so he’s excited to get in more golfing time with friends and hopefully take a trip down to Florida. His biggest plans include tying the knot in July, followed by a honeymoon in Cancun. After he returns, Staley will pack up his tent and lantern for a trip to the Smokey Mountains for a week and a half with his family.

Staley’s goal as a social studies teacher is to remain balanced in the content covered. “Students shouldn’t know politically what way I lean. As a student, Staley had teachers who only taught their opinions, so he tries to keep personal bias and opinions out of the classroom.

“My goal is to just present the facts,” Staley said.

BY MALLORY JOHNSON ’26

During the first two weeks of summer, social studies teacher Mikayla McVey intends to spend as much time soaking up the sun and listening to podcasts as possible. With plans to attend friends’ weddings and chaperone the school’s Education day, is full of unexpected hobbies and niche interests. Here are four UAHS staff members who sat down with Arlingtonian to discuss each of their unique and passion-driven summer plans.

First tour to Spain, McVey is excited to take a trip out west, heading all the way to Big Sky, Montana, for a family getaway. Her trip to Montana will feature horseback riding, farmers markets, a trip to Yellowstone and floating down the rivers of Big Sky in tubes.

The energy and joy brought by the students every day is something McVey cherishes.

“You basically have 100 comedians in class all the time to make you laugh; I laugh, like, all day long,” McVey said.

She said that cultivating relationships with students is the most rewarding and important part of the job.

Far away from his beakers and safety goggles, science teacher Frank Tuttle will enjoy a summer full of hobbies and travel. In between woodworking projects here in Columbus, he is taking a trip to the Smokey Mountains to capture images of fireflies that glow in synchronicity. Although he has been to all 50 states, Tuttle will return to Maine for the third summer this July, and continue north with a stop in Acadia before spending time photographing puffins.

Tuttle works hard to create connections with his students.

“I care about them as much as I care about my own family. During the day they are my kids,” Tuttle said. “If I didn’t like them I wouldn’t be

Although students aren’t in the building, head princiAndrew Theado has a busy summer schedule. He spends most of his day working in the building with administrators and getting ready for next school year. Apart from time off for the Fourth of July and occasional vacation days to take Fridays off, Theado plans to spend his non-working hours in Dad mode and coaching mode. Apart from some day trips around Ohio spent hiking and enjoying the sun, Theado can be found coaching his son’s travel baseball team on various fields around Ohio.

Theado shares his perspective on the pressure put on students, saying: “You’re not just building your resume in high school. You’re living your life. You’re learning about what you’re interested in, a lot of you are involved in service and making an impact on the world. It’s not just about taking certain classes to get certain things on your transcript.”