Fab Educator: Len Mormino
Len Mormino is the school counselor and College-Career-Community Readiness Coordinator for ninth through 12th graders at Memorial High School in Madison.
How long have you been teaching? 27 years in my profession; 21 of them in the Madison Schools
What inspired you to be a teacher? I had social science teachers that hooked me with epic storytelling, drama teachers that got my friends and I excited about pretending together, and a gymnastics teacher that made the sport fun. The altruistic, hopeful, passionate, dreamy stage of adolescence inspires me. Last but not least, having parents (one an Italian Immigrant) that never finished high school and were joyful in seeing me become educated in and out of the classroom pushed me to pursue higher education.
What is your greatest joy in teaching? Helping young people find meaning in their lives and explore future paths that are a fit for them is fun. Seeing students, at their own pace, become aware, confident, overcome adversity and find clarity can be a small magic to witness. Working with wonderful teams and watching each generation of students go into the world and use their gifts is humbling. My caseload is also especially diverse ethnically in this chapter of my career, which helps me to learn about experiences and lifestyles I would otherwise know much less about. It can be like a special cultural journey every week.
What about your greatest challenge? Being “parent” for the day with so many youth can be daunting at times. Adolescence is a powerful emotional stage in life! Having students sometimes not have the outside support they personally need is hard not to take home with you. The impacts of racial inequities, socioeconomic factors, addiction and influences of technology continue to be incredible challenges in education. Children are the barometer or mirror of the community a school sits in, so whatever is going on outside of school, we feel inside our walls during the class day. Even with incredibly large caseloads and class sizes, it’s never been more important as staff to create a school culture that is inclusive, empowering and supportive to all students in mindful ways, as well as help students have access to multiple post-high school pathways to success. Finally, re-imagining our approach to education and school community through an anti-racist lens, standing up to injustices small and institutional, is a game changer, crucial and my/our main focus now.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic altered your day-to-day as an educator? As a student service member, the pandemic has made quality relationship-building and inter-personal learning opportunities much more difficult. The stress for many has doubled, and communication and provision of resources is more complex and, thus, sometimes slower. On the other hand, the ways we have stretched and grown in our use of technology to work with families will have a lasting change on the way we do this work, equipping us with more tools than we’ve ever known before. The valuing of in-person experiences has also been appreciated and refreshed.
If a student can have only one takeaway from time spent in your classroom, what would it be? Appreciate the heart and talents you bring to the world–cool and quirky–and appreciate the same in others. Work to develop those gifts that are important to you, and support others to do the same. Our community and world needs you all.