Coming into a new environment as a teacher can be overwhelming, but for new Health and Fitness teacher Chris Kirwan, the Algonquin students have made this process seamless.

Kirwan, who comes to his new position with three years of experience as a teacher and 13 years coaching at the collegiate level, had always wanted to be a teacher since he was young because his mom was a teacher. However, he specifically chose health and fitness because of growing up in sports such as baseball, soccer and indoor track. 

Kirwan was most recently a middle school Health and Fitness teacher in the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District.

“This is a much better position, and I’m just loving it here,” Kirwan said. “It’s a bigger school, with more engaging students and a welcoming faculty.” 

According to Kirwan, adjusting to the school size and getting to know the people seemed impossible at first.

“Coming into a school that was almost triple the size as my last one was a shock for me,” Kirwan said.

Kirwan is thrilled for the future he has at Algonquin teaching gym classes as well as health education.

“The students at Algonquin have made it a really easy transition,” Kirwan said.

 Kirwan has also been the Worcester State University women’s soccer coach for the past 13 years, which he believes has shaped his teaching skills.

“All my players are different so you have to coach them differently, so I apply this to the students,” Kirwan said. “I don’t just teach the class as a whole; I try and teach individuals and how they learn best.”

Kirwan seeks what works best for each individual student rather than the whole class, so everyone can feel accomplished when giving it their all even if varied in level or skill.

“I try to learn the students,” Kirwan said.

Kirwan looks forward to the rest of the school year and getting involved beyond the classroom.

“If there are coaching opportunities here, then I’d be open to them because it’s nice to get to know the students outside of the classroom,” Kirwan said.