Staff double down, balance interests with teaching

Aside from teaching graphic design and art history, art teacher Mark Gleason also creates oil paintings. Gleason’s passion for fine arts has existed since his youth. When he was younger, he would participate in kids’ art shows. Now, his art is featured in exhibitions around the world, ranging from locations such as Los Angeles to Murcia, Spain. “My first serious art exhibit was in college and...

Four years ago, when social studies teacher Chris Johnson learned that the announcer position for Gunn’s football games was open, he decided to volunteer, combining his passion for the sport with his experience in voice work. “I’ve gone through voiceover training, and I was a football coach about 20 years ago, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” he said. To prepare for each game, Johnson requests...

Sports medicine teacher Stacey Kofman balances responsibilities at Gunn, Stanford University, Palo Alto High School (Paly) and Go 4 Ellis. A passion for teaching and helping athletes connects all of Kofman’s jobs. Her career began at Paly as the athletic trainer in 1993. Later, she began teaching sports medicine in 2000 and Physical Education (P.E.) in 2004. “I enjoy the combination of being...

Living Skills and Early Childhood Development teacher Jeanette Tucker is also employed as an adjunct professor—someone who is hired part time on a contractual basis. She began working at De Anza College in 2021 and San Jose City College in 2022, teaching social psychology and general psychology respectively. She explains that she started working three jobs for financial reasons. “I had two kids,...