During the week prior to the first day of school, your teachers and school staff came in early to listen to co-founder and Chief of Link Crew, Micah Jacobson. Jacobson encouraged them regarding how to be positive role models and create an accepting, well-structured environment grounded by mutual care for fellow staff.  Furthermore, Laguna Beach athletic director, Lance Neal is currently organizing staff barbeques before football games- not only to bring the staff closer together, but also to set the bar high for the rest of the school as it continues to look for ways to strengthen bonds within the community.

Each department at the school has developed its own unique routines over the years: eating lunch together; bringing in baked goods on Fridays; even participating in group chats. In a way, high school teachers and their interactions with their friends are no different than their own students.

“We’re like a tight-knit family. We’re all a little unique in our own way. Quirky is a good word to describe us,” said Spanish teacher and foreign language department chair, Jim Garvey.

Teachers don’t have a lot of time to branch out to other departments with their busy schedules during the week; however, when there is an event, they often make an effort to ensure that everyone, even from other departments, is included.  

“We’ve had get-togethers at each other’s houses.  My favorite was co-hosted by Mr. Shen and Mrs. Perkins one year,”  said social studies teacher and department chair, Kristin Cowles. “There were people from almost every department there, and we all had a great time! Although, Mr. Alvarez’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Party was pretty awesome, as well!”

At times, a department will go out of its way to acknowledge the hard work that a single member has demonstrated for the team.  

“I love them all. My fellow English teachers pooled their money together and bought me two tickets to a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball game,”  said the English teacher and department chair, Jon Hendrickson. “I took my wife because my friends couldn’t go, and we had a great time.”

The more that the adults on campus pay attention to their fellow staff, putting careful thought into every gesture, the better the school and its students are ultimately served.  Healthy relationships are the foundation for any successful environment.

“I think it’s also a positive impact for students to see adults who like each other and work together, even though we all have different points of view and opinions.  Its modeling positive relationships by people that care about students and who care about each other,” said Cowles.