Get To Know Pat Mennella: HS Physics Teacher And Robotics Club Advisor

Each week in School One-On-One, Patch sits down with individuals who contribute to the high standards of education in Mahwah, and asks them a few questions to get to know them better.

One of those individuals is Pat Mennella, a woman who found her new passion as a physics teacher and Co-Advisor of the Robotics club for Mahwah High School, after a successful career as an engineer.

Why did you switch from a career as an engineer to a high school physics teacher?

PM: “I started having kids. I was home for two years with the kids. I started doing part time stuff at night and then my husband told me I should think about going into teaching. I have a Bachelor’s and a Masters Degree in engineering, so it was such an easy parlay into teaching physics. I just went back to school for teaching certification.”

 How long have you been a teacher?

 PM: “I started here in Mahwah in 2000. I started teaching in 1996 and was there for four years.”

 You are Co-Advisor of the Robotics club. What appealed to you about this particular club?

PM: “I just love when kids get to do something. I will always look for a competition that’s done for the kids, by the kids and it doesn’t have outside help. To me that’s important. I love engineering, that’s my thing.”

 What’s one thing you’d like to add to the robotics club?

 PM: “Anybody in the area with an engineering background who would like to come and help out, offer advice or a different opinion to the club would be welcome. It would be nice to bring a team of engineers in and show them our design. Sometimes we might need a part for the machine and having a company sponsor us would make it easier. So, anyone who wants to sponsor the club should contact me at pmennella@mahwah.k12.nj.us.”

 The annual US FIRST Robotics Competition, which is March 5^th, 6^th and 7^th this year, is a worldwide event. How do you fare?

PM: “We’re getting progressively better each year. The fact that we finished in the top eight out of 60ish teams last year was phenomenal.”

Where can friends and family and hopefully interested future sponsors find out information about the Mahwah High School Robotics team and competition?

PM: “Team1672.com is the official website for the Mahwah High School robotics team which also explains the contest, rules, introduces the team members and has an email address if you want to become a sponsor or make a donation.”

You’ve had a successful engineering career. You are a successful teacher. What would be your dream job?

PM: “My dream job would be to own a vineyard in the Tuscan countryside. I’d settle for owning a wine and cheese store in the city!”