Let’s hear it for the new health teacher, Mr. Mike Schleiden! Who is that? Well, he replaces the retiring Mr. Burke in the classroom. Let’s take a closer look into Mr. Schleiden’s life with this questionnaire . . .

Where did you go to high school?

Perry High School (Massillon, Ohio).

Where did you attend college?

Ohio Wesleyan University and Slippery Rock University.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been teaching for seven years.

Is this the job you have always wanted, or did your original path change and lead to teaching?

I always wanted to be a professional athlete. Unfortunately, I’m short and not quite fast enough. Teaching math or health and physical education was what I wanted to do as a more realistic career.

What is something you want your students to know about you?

I was in your shoes before and not that long ago. High school is tough, I get it. Don’t be afraid to communicate with me.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Building a relationship with my students.

Where did you grow up and did that have an affect on your occupation?

Canton, Ohio. I had some really great teachers in school and some really not so great teachers. I knew I always wanted to move to Western PA because my parents grew up here, and I knew the job market in Canton was dying. So I’d say, yes, it had an effect and it makes me want to do the best for my students so that their futures will be brighter in a world where it’s easy to see a lot of negatives.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

Witnessing student growth, success, and enjoyment of learning.

If you had the chance to teach another subject, what would it be?

Math.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

Can’t pick one. Parents are the easy choice, and they have inspired me from the get go, but I’m extremely blessed to have met many inspirational people along the way.

What is one thing you wish your students would take away from you?

Don’t let anyone tell you you can't do something. It doesn’t matter your background, your age, your race, your education level, you can absolutely achieve anything if you want it badly enough and are willing to put in the work. Don’t make excuses, make improvements.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

Definitely COVID.

What frustrates you about your job?

COVID . . . truly, there’s not really anything “frustrating” about it that wasn’t brought on by COVID. But it’s not hard or frustrating, it’s just different and I feel all teachers and students are dealing with the learning curve differently, and that's fine.

What is a common misconception about your job you’d like to set right?

Please don’t call it “gym” or think of it as “just health class.” It’s the one subject that will affect you every day for the rest of your life.