The Sage Informer

After years at Monticello Middle School, Mr. Walsh, a teacher many students already knew and loved at Monticello Middle School, decided to make the switch to Monticello High School in August, after the retirement of longtime social studies teacher, Mrs. Espenschied.

About the shift, he said, “High schoolers definitely don’t smell like middle schoolers, that’s for sure!” with a laugh.

Mr. Walsh taught middle school social studies for approximately seven or eight years and joined the high school staff this year. He took over the popular AP U.S. History and Pre-AP Contemporary courses, and is teaching American Government and World Geography, as well. 

Moving from middle school to high school has been an exciting challenge for Mr. Walsh. “I’ve got big shoes to fill from Mrs. Espenschied,” he explained. “It’s really just a different rhythm, but I enjoy diving into things on a deeper level…and familiarizing, adjusting, and modifying the curriculum to be able to teach it as best I can.”

He also appreciated being able to move up to the next level alongside his own kids as they are starting to navigate their high school experiences and academics.

This transition even prompted Mr. Walsh to reflect on his own high school days as both a performer and an athlete. “Our marching band placed first in our class at state and won the percussion award,” he recalled. “I had a phenomenal class between band and athletics. My sophomore junior varsity team went undefeated up until our rivalry game against St. Teresa.” He reminisced about the season as “a good season with a great group of guys.”

One thing Mr. Walsh noted as a major difference between his high school days and now is “nobody uses their lockers anymore. Back in my day, the sound of slamming lockers was high school.” As a teacher, he notes that this can cause some frustration, saying, “With all the backpacks lying around, the last thing I want is to fall down in front of everybody like a big klutz…”

However, he said he is enjoying his time here, especially the lack of “smelly middle schoolers and…boogers.” It is this sarcasm, and his light and funny personality in general, that so many of the current high schoolers were excited to see join them in the halls of MHS.

Although much has changed since learning about the American Revolution in Mr. Walsh’s seventh grade class, it’s clear he fits right in at MHS.

Anya Sheppard, Staff Writer 

shean28@sages.us