Guess who’s back at Manville High School: Mr. Nicholas McFarland!
When asked how he felt when leaving Manville, McFarland stated, “Every decision we make, positive or negative, is a learning experience that we grow from.” To him, it was a learning experience to leave Manville, and now he looks forward to continuing to support and educate the students he interacts with each day.
McFarland got his undergraduate degree of physical education at Monmouth University and his Masters degree of Special Education at Grand Canyon University. He chose physical education because of his love for being physically active and how it can change your life. In high school, Mr. McFarland had a learning disability, so he knows about all the hardships students can face.
Mr. McFarland began his education career at Bonnie Brae, located in Basking Ridge, NJ, where he worked for 3 years dealing with boys who had troubles with drugs, alcohol, and sexual offenses. While working on completing his masters in special education, he was a substitute teacher at the Hillsborough School District. By the time that Mr. McFarland received his masters, school districts were still facing the effects of Covid, and he was quickly hired at Manville High School as a student teacher.
McFarland is happy to be back here at MHS; when asked about why he came back, he stated, “The atmosphere and comradery is very special at Manville High School. I feel like I can really make an impact with the support of my coworkers. Being back feels like I haven’t left; everyone has made me feel very welcomed. First month has been amazing, and I have enjoyed every day I have been here.”
Being a teacher in general is a very tough task; however, it’s extremely rewarding. Special education is a different task in and of itself. This is due to the multiple different learning styles and disabilities that the teacher must be prepared for. According to McFarland, Manville makes it easier: “My co-workers make this job immensely enjoyable. Luckily I have been in the district for 4 years in multiple different positions now and have loved working with everyone.”
Mr. McFarland has been coaching for years, where he is constantly learning new things, such as training methodologies and training techniques, which he has applied at many schools, including Manville. To him, coaching is an amazing experience that he continues to do at Voorhees High School. Besides his hobby of coaching, he has had a multitude of other jobs, including working at summer camps, substitute teaching, summer school, The YMCA, a food bank, and even landscaping. He tries to switch it up sometimes, and this summer he might work at a computer repair shop, as building and fixing computers has been a hobby.
McFarland would tell seniors who are graduating that you don’t have to have it all figured out while you’re in your 20’s. Figure out what you like and what you don’t and it’s ok to make mistakes just learn from it all. Once again, welcome back Mr. McFarland!
