By Nicole Cohen, NHS Member

One of the most important professions in the world is teaching. Not only do teachers influence their students’ education, but they also shape the next generation of individuals. The thoughts, actions, and goals of teachers can impact students for the rest of their lives. Mr. Maciejewski, a special education teacher at Fair Lawn High School, exemplifies an admirable educator who cares deeply for his students’ education and growth as members of society.

Mr. Maciejewski teaches ninth-grade Modern World History, mixed-grade US History 2, and co-teaches English 9. He was inspired to become a teacher because he worked in a program where kids struggled to be happy with themselves and he realized how much easy access he had to education. Thus, he wanted to make a difference in students’ lives for the better. Mr. Maciejewski’s motivation to teach demonstrates his kind character and is evidently exhibited throughout his teaching style. In order to start his day off with energy and a clear head, he wakes up every day at 4:50 am and goes to the gym to use the treadmill, bike, and weights. Exercising allows him to focus on himself and map out his day. He thinks it is crucial to take care of one’s own mental health. A ‘good day’ at FLHS for Mr. Maciejewski is when his students show genuine curiosity toward what they are learning. Mr. Maciejewski stated, “This curiosity makes me even more curious and it is an awesome feeling when someone wants to learn more or learns something new about a topic they thought they already knew about.” Mr. Maciejewski cherishes his students’ happiness and wants them to be passionate about their education.

It is Mr. Maciejewski’s third year teaching at Fair Lawn High School. One of his first memories at FLHS is when he started co-teaching with Mr. Van Curen and Mr. Vaccaro for English 9. He had previously only taught at a middle school, so he was excited for the new experience and comfortable with working with them. Also, history is a passion of his and teaching his own class in high school gave him more freedom. Mr. Maciejewski has a very positive attitude when educating his students and enjoys it very much. He explained, “The best thing about being a teacher is that I get to laugh and have fun every day. Unlike the boring adult world, kids are silly and they help me remember what it was like being a kid.” 

In addition to having a positive mindset, Mr. Maciejewski also is not afraid to make mistakes in the classroom. One embarrassing moment he recalls during virtual learning, “I was teaching over Zoom and shared my screen for 25 minutes into the class before I realized that the screen was not shared and my students were lost.” Despite any challenges Mr. Maciejewski may have faced, he has overcome them and has had many accomplishments. Accomplishments that fill him with pride are when his students are thinking on a deeper level and showing him perspectives that he did not even consider. He is proud when his students are genuinely caring about their learning and confident in themselves. 

Overall, Mr. Maciejewski hopes his students will remember him as being someone that is always there for them in the best and worst times. His main philosophy is that teaching is not all about the content, it is most importantly about the relationships you build.