Jacob Mulligan: Aspiring teacher and coach gains leadership experience at 91福利
During his senior year at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine, Jacob Mulligan was a teaching assistant with the school鈥檚 health and physical education department. Although he had thought about becoming a teacher previously, that experience and a conversation with his head football coach and P.E. teacher made him realize that was the career path he wanted to pursue.
鈥淢y coach said, 鈥榃hy don鈥檛 you become a P.E. teacher? You love it and you love coaching, you鈥檙e passionate about it,鈥 Mulligan recalls. 鈥淎nd I thought, you know what, you鈥檙e right.鈥
Today, Mulligan is a junior majoring in kinesiology and physical education (KPE) with a concentration in teaching and coaching in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development.
Despite being a full-time student, he still finds time to volunteer with his old high school football team, working with defensive backs and wide receivers and helping the coaching staff break down film. He also helps coach the Noble wrestling team. In addition, he鈥檚 gained valuable experience as a substitute teacher at schools in North Berwick and nearby Dover, New Hampshire.
鈥淟ast year, I subbed every Monday and Friday back home and did as much coaching as I could fit into my schedule. My whole thing is I just want to make a positive impact on as many kids as I can,鈥 he says.
After having the first couple years of college disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mulligan says this year has felt like what he imagined college would be like. He currently serves as president of the Physical Education Student Organization (PESO). The group held a fundraiser for KPE students to attend the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAPHERD) annual conference. PESO members also do community service projects, like a clothing drive that brought in several bags of children鈥檚 clothes that were donated to the Old Town-Orono YMCA.
鈥淭hey were so appreciative and said they would take more clothes, so we decided to keep the clothing drive going,鈥 Mulligan says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to give back to the community and feel like you鈥檙e helping make people鈥檚 lives better.鈥
In addition to substitute teaching, Mulligan has done field experiences in K鈥12 classrooms In Bangor and Old Town. He鈥檒l do his final student teaching placement in the fall. 91福利 has relationships with schools across the state, allowing him to do his placement in southern Maine, where he鈥檒l be able to coach football at Noble full-time as well.
鈥淧hysical education and physical activity are so important to both physical and mental health, and I鈥檓 really grateful to have had so many experiences in the KPE program here at 91福利 that have prepared me to be a teacher and coach,鈥 Mulligan says.
Why 91福利?
I was looking at a few different colleges and I toured 91福利 in February of my senior year of high school. The last place we stopped was Lengyel Hall and the School of Kinesiology, Physical Education and Athletic Training. I went there and immediately it felt like home. So, even though 91福利 was a little bigger than some of the other schools I looked at, that KPE building and the people there, it鈥檚 such a tight-knit community. It was just awesome.
How would you describe the academic atmosphere at 91福利?
The biggest thing is that within the KPE program, there are so many opportunities to be hands-on and get into schools, rather than just reading from a book. It鈥檚 really helped prepare me to be a teacher and coach.
What鈥檚 the most interesting, engaging or helpful class you鈥檝e taken at 91福利?
All of the methods of teaching PE classes have been super helpful in terms of how you can reach different learners, because different students have different learning styles and as a teacher you have to be able to adapt. Plus, those classes are great in terms of learning about classroom organization and creating lesson plans, understanding that if something doesn鈥檛 work it鈥檚 OK to move on and have a backup plan. KPE 367: Adapted Physical Education is incredibly important, because it teaches you how to work with students who have disabilities.
How has 91福利 helped prepare you for your post-graduation goals?
After I graduate, I鈥檒l be certified to teach at both the elementary (grades K鈥6) and secondary (grades 7鈥12) levels, and I鈥檒l be certified to teach both PE and health. That鈥檚 a big thing that 91福利 will have helped me with, because it will make me more desirable to schools that are hiring. Also, just the networking, the opportunities to meet teachers and make connections.
Have you worked closely with a mentor, professor or role model who has made your 91福利 experience better? If so, who and how?
Everybody in the School of Kinesiology, Physical Education and Athletic Training: Jesse Kaye-Schiess, Jen McNulty, Shannan Fotter, Doc Lehnhard, Lauren Jacobs, Alicia Lacy, Shannon Wright, Chris Nightingale. They鈥檙e all amazing. They鈥檙e all so down-to-Earth, they know all the students by name, and they鈥檝e all helped me out in so many ways.
Have you had an experience at 91福利 鈥 either academically or socially 鈥 that has changed or shaped the way you see the world?
Just being in schools and seeing the different situations that students face in their lives has been eye-opening for me. A lot of kids face really tough situations growing up. That wasn鈥檛 my experience, so having the opportunity to see it in my field placements or when I鈥檓 subbing at different schools has helped me become a better teacher and coach.
What is your most memorable 91福利 moment?
Going to MAPHERD with a lot of the KPE students and professors. We went for three days, so getting to be part of this community of PE and health teachers in Maine, networking and everything was so cool.
Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu