It is not every day that a first year teacher makes a very smooth transition from coaching and playing on the football field to teaching algebra and geometry in the classroom. But for Mr. Jake Bunofsky, his first year at Mount Carmel has been nothing but excitement.
Mr. Bunofsky joined the Mount Carmel faculty this year, bringing a fresh passion and perspective for teaching math. Although this may be his first year teaching, he is not new to the idea of leadership. With a background in finance and business, he is ready to make an impact in the classroom.
Growing up in a Catholic household with very strong traditions, he felt right at home with the values at Mount Carmel. “My background and upbringing were very similar to the traditions and values that Mount Carmel upholds,” Bunofsky says. “I grew up in a Catholic household, and my grandpa was a deacon in a Catholic church.”
Surprisingly adjusting to a private school environment has been an easy experience for him, the transition has been incredibly good because of Mount Carmel’s community. Attending a public school growing up, the move to a private school was an adjustment, but Bunofsky is handling it very well.
“A private school is definitely a different way of life than the public school system,” he explains. “But the traditions and expectations at this school have made it an easy adjustment. When you set a high bar for students, they live up to that bar. That’s what’s great about this place.”
Mr. Bunofsky loves the student body at Mount Carmel. “9 out of 10 times, you’ll see someone trying to reach that goal or expectation,” he says of the drive for the MC students.
His journey to teaching algebra began with a degree in finance from John Carroll University, and following that with a master’s degree in business administration. Despite not having a background in teaching, his experience coaching football gave him confidence in his ability to teach.
“I was an assistant coach for the last two years at Carroll University,” says Mr. Bunofsky. “I feel like coaching and teaching have a lot of parallels.”
His love for competition is something that he has brought into the classroom. Recently, he has tried a new method to get the students more engaged. He turned the lessons into a competition. “We broke off into teams and made a point system.,” he explains. “I think anytime you can create competition in school or life, you can make it more engaging. Everyone at Mount Carmel is competitive and likes to win.”
While Mr. Bunofsky is new to teaching, he has a vision of his role in the Mount Carmel community. “I think my role as a teacher is to prepare students here for whatever life throws at them in the future,” he believes. “Whether you learn a million different math concepts or not, I hope I’ve taught skills that will carry over into the real world.”
The approach he uses differs on the grade level. With seniors, he focuses on preparing them for their next steps in life after graduation. For the juniors, he puts his effort into preparing them for the SAT and ACT exams, helping them feel confident and ready.
The community at Mount Carmel is something Bunofsky finds very special at the school. Even though he is a new teacher this year, he feels very supported by both the staff and students.
“The community is very selfless,” he says. “Walking in as a new teacher, everyone has been so supportive. It’s a very inclusive place. I feel like I’m part of something unique, which is hard to find in today’s age.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Bunofsky has very high hopes for his students. Whether it is achieving academic success or growing as a person, he wants to see each student thrive.
Mr. Bunofsky’s first year at Mount Carmel may have just started, but his passion for teaching and commitment to MC’s values are already making an impact. With his competitive spirit and dedication to student success, he is quickly becoming a great addition to the Mount Carmel community.
