Some students at NDA tend to forget that teachers have lives outside of school and participate in extracurriculars just like the students do.

For example, Ms. Susie McGinnity starts most of her days with a bike ride.

She bikes 10 miles from her home to NDA and goes back to her home the same way, which means she’s riding a bike for 20 miles almost daily. 

“I started biking in college and shortly after began competitively racing mountain bikes,” McGinnity said. “It’s easy for me to stick with riding because mountain biking is one of my favorite things to do, but I have to stay in shape to ride at the level I enjoy.”

This school year alone, she has already ridden more than 500 miles to and from NDA. 

This can sometimes be difficult due to the weather.

“I have rain gear if it rains, or I just drive on those days,” she said.

McGinnity doesn’t just bike ride for exercise or enjoyment; she also likes to keep Earth clean.

“While I love biking, it makes me happy to know that coming to work on my bike, rather than in my car, reduces my carbon footprint. I always want to do my part for the planet. So, I see it as a win-win.”

Mrs. Shannon Holmes is another teacher at NDA that dedicates a lot of her time outside of school to an activity.

Holmes coaches hockey players and teaches skating lessons before and after school.

“I’m a born ‘rink rat,’” Holmes said. “My father was a hockey coach, my grandfather was an NHL scout and my mom figure skated. I have always loved skating of every kind, and always will.”

Holmes trains a group of about six NDA hockey and Ice Bears players twice a week at 6 a.m. 

She also coaches youth and speed skating programs throughout the week. 

“Nothing gives me the feeling of freedom that skating does,” she said. “The athletes I’ve coached over the years inspire me.”

Both teachers illustrate the fact that teachers do so much more than just teach.