Schindler Shakes It UP at SHS

Students who enter room 203 know they are in for an entertaining class. Jonathon Schindler, one of Scituate High School’s newest teachers, has already gained the respect and trust of many students. From his pencil-antics to his signature “jorts” formula poster, students gravitate to his unique teaching style. Schindler, who teaches Algebra and Precalculus, aims to create a positive,  relaxed–yet hard-working–environment each day.

Growing up in Weymouth, Schindler attended Boston College High School. He later attended Quinnipiac University, where he graduated with a marketing degree.

Even before his teaching career, Scituate played a special role in Schindler’s life. His grandparents lived in Scituate, and he visited them almost every Sunday. According to Schindler, the town is still the same at it’s “bones” to when he was younger.“I think it’s a great community overall,” he said.

In particular, Schindler is impressed by Scituate’s core values, mentioning the effort to incorporate all backgrounds. He said, “I think it is really conducive to getting people involved and taking pride into what they are a part of.”

Schindler said his experience at SHS has been “fantastic.” He added, “That’s not just limiting it to the whole school but really the whole town.” “The school’s culture itself is really laid back and very comfortable and healthy,” he said.

Benefiting from perfect timing, Schindler was hired last year after he spent a half semester at South Shore Vocational Technical High School completing his teaching practicum. The timing was ideal, as a position opened up in Scituate’s math department in the middle of January–the same time Schindler was looking for a new teaching position. Recalling the experience, he said, “I think I came in on day 91, so it was literally for half the year.” Schindler said, “It couldn’t have been a better fit, as it fits in with what I was looking for. I have enjoyed it ever since.”

Schindler has specific goals he hopes to achieve at Scituate High School. “I want to keep getting better day to day and keep improving my craft,” he said. “I want to try to be as good as I can be as an educator and also as a person in the community.” Schindler reiterated his desire to enjoy every opportunity he is given. “Growth is always the biggest driving force anyone can have,” he said.

Outside of the classroom, Schindler shares many of the same interests as his students. He is a big Boston sports fan and was very excited when the Red Sox won the World Series. He also enjoys fishing, golfing, and snowboarding during the winter season. He said, “I always try to stay active and try to get out and try new stuff, too.”