New Teacher Returns to His Alma Mater

by Mia Giglio

Mark Lawton, a 2003 HHS graduate, returned this year in April to become part of the English department after Matt Brown left. He worked as a paraprofessional from the fall of 2013 to January 2015, when he took a leave of absence to do his student teaching at Clinton High School.

Curriculum coordinator Todd Wallingford called him just as he was finishing student teaching to let him know that there was a long-term sub position open, and he asked if he would be able to come to an interview.

He had worked at Clinton High School as a student teacher with the freshman, sophomore, and senior classes.

In our interview he recalled when he realized he wanted to be a teacher. “When I graduated from Fitchburg State in 2007, I had a degree in professional writing. Writing (and reading) were my passion. I looked for jobs in the publishing field, but had little to no luck.  However, it then dawned on me why I loved reading and writing so much.  I remembered that the people who had the greatest impact on my life had been teachers.  After that epiphany, I went back to school to earn a teaching degree. It became my goal to share my enthusiasm of reading and writing with the younger generation. The road has been tough at times, but nothing worth doing is easy.”

Lawton explained how he had great memories as a paraprofessional. He said, “Honestly, I just loved seeing the look on a student’s face when they saw their hard work pay off.  I think some students just have a “can’t do it” mentality for whatever reason. I found that it was my job, not to give them the answer, but to lead them to it and show them how they could get there.  Lately though, it’s been quite refreshing to hear from the students that I had helped as a para.  Hearing how much I was a help to them never gets old.”

Fellow English teacher Heather Gearty, who had worked with Lawton when he was a paraprofessional, talked very highly about him and had quite a few things to say. Gearty said that she noticed a lot while he was working with the students. “He has a great sense of humor, and he knows his subject. He’s an avid reader and musician, so he connects very well with the students.” She also said,  “I think he’ll be a great match.”

Lawton has high hopes for his classroom. “ I hope to be a full-time teacher in front of a classroom full of wide smiles and raised hands, with notebooks covered in “I <3 Shakespeare!”  haha (That sound too naive?) It is my hope that I will be able to have an impact on students the same way that a lot of my teachers had an impact on me.  I love what I do, and I always wanted that to come across in my teaching,” Lawton said.