John McCormick Named RHS Teacher of the Year

After 22 years teaching at Ramapo High School, John McCormick is leaving on a high note.

The biology teacher won the Bergen County Teacher Award for RHS, given annually to one teacher at each county school.

“I think because over the years I’ve developed a reputation for being tough,” McCormick said when asked why he thought he had received the recognition. “But at the same time, kids come in to the class and learn about biology and have a lot of fun doing it.”

McCormick, who will retire at the end of this year, taught two sections of advanced placement biology—almost 50 students who could go on to earn college credit for the coursework they’ve completed in his class.

After he leaves full-time teaching in June, McCormick will be working part-time with pre-college programs at Montclair State University, to keep busy and up-to-date with science, he says.

A graduate of Kansas State University, over the years McCormick has made it a point to continually develop and update his knowledge in the field, taking two master’s degrees in biology and toxicity, from Rutgers and Columbia, respectively, all while maintaining his full-time teaching position.

“I needed something to stimulate me intellectually, and I wanted to get as current as I can,” he said.

Teaching wasn’t the Staten Island native’s plan from the beginning, and he began his 38-year teaching career after post-college stint in laboratory science.

“After I graduated I worked in a lab for a while, and realized I didn’t like it,” he said. “And I thought back to high school and realized [teaching] was something I would be comfortable doing and hopefully have an impact.”

But even if McCormick isn’t settling down entirely when he leaves Ramapo, the school will lose a wealth of experience from the man who did not cease extending the knowledge he could share with students. The soon-to-be retiree expressed both honor and surprise at the distinction.

“It’s a very nice way to end my career.”