New teacher is jack of all trades

From a bar tender in high volume rock n’ roll club to a maintenance worker, new teacher Mike McQuade has worked in many different professions in many different places but now he has finally settled as a teacher at Saratoga High School.

During more than a decade as an employee of the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School district, McQuade has worked in the maintenance department, been a student teacher with Kelly Nicholson and has now finally become a biology as well as an anatomy and physiology teacher.

“When I decided to become a teacher, I was hoping to get a good job in a good school district and now I’ve found the greatest school to teach in,” McQuade said.

He envisioned himself as a biology teacher and with determination he made that dream a reality.

“I love biology, anatomy and physiology although biology was my major in college,” McQuade said. “My goal for now is to have a 10- to 15-year career as a teacher.”

McQuade has no shortage of qualifications. Prior to receiving his credential from National University in February of 2009, he had held an array of substitute teaching positions. However, due to the current fiscal crisis he was unable to find a permanent teaching job anywhere. But when former physics teacher Bill Drennan retired, a position opened up and McQuade jumped at the opportunity.

“[McQuade] applied and did a great job, he was clearly the best out of the applicants,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson mentored McQuade and encouraged him to pursue his teaching credential back in 2008.

“[McQuade] had graduated with his degree but he never pursued his teaching credential, he reached a point in his life where he decided he wanted to teach so I offered to be his master teacher,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson speaks glowingly of McQuade’s drive and passion for teaching.

“He is really great to work with and he really absorbs information, he is also really open to learning from both the students and other teachers,” said Nicholson.

McQuade’s lengthy history in this district makes his transition to teaching much easier and he looks forward to getting his teaching career off to a good start.