Amongst the dedicated and active teachers at Middletown High School North is history and economics teacher, club advisor, and coach, Mr. Jon Scala. Scala, who was granted the title of staff member of the month of November, was acknowledged for his extreme involvement in Student Government, Newspaper, and linking the two to make the school and community a better place.

After being hired as a maternity replacement teacher Mrs. Jen Smith at Middletown High School North in 2004, Scala replaced a history mentor of his, Rocky Christopher, and has been teaching history for the past 13 years

Knowing he wanted to become a history teacher, according to Mr. Jon Scala, was due to his high school US History teacher Marie Caldaro, also a former principal at Middletown North. “She had such a great rapport with her students.”

Scala attended and graduated from Monmouth University, a school many teachers at Middletown North pursued, and by his sophomore year of college had decided that teaching and coaching were his passions.

In addition, to teaching history, Scala is the advisor of Student Government, Newspaper, GLP3 and has also served as the varsity baseball coach for six seasons at Middletown North (2006-2011) and also served as an assistant baseball coach at Brookdale Community College for three seasons.

When being asked what it meant to him to be a teacher, Mr. Jon Scala gave his personal experiences and future endeavors in saying, “It is an amazing experience.  Knowing that you can make a difference in someone’s life, even if it is the smallest amount is very gratifying.  I was fortunate to have teachers that made such a strong impact in my life and I feel it is important to do the same.”

Not only is history a strong passion of Mr. Scala, but the meaning behind it and being able to teach it to others exceeds what others would consider the meaning of being a teacher. “I love the storytelling of history and energy of communicating with the students. I love seeing students grasp content and information that at times can be boring or difficult to comprehend.”

Recently, November 21, Mr. Scala assembled Middletown North’s first ever bonfire, that will be upheld as a traditional outdoor pep rally to acknowledge the graduating seniors, fall sports, and bring a sense of togetherness to the community.

Because of all of the devotion and participation Mr. Jon Scala has provided to Middletown High School North, he was chosen as staff member of the month and has proven to be able to uphold the standards placed on him by the school and will continue to bring them great things.