Michael Senick: Kindergarten Teacher

I grew up in: Exeter Township.  I now live in: Cumru Township. My parents are Heidi and John Senick. I have four siblings: Melissa, Kim, Anthony and Ricky. I also am engaged to my beautiful fiancee, Holly Kowalski.  

Education: Exeter High School; associate degree, Reading Area Community College; bachelor's degree in elementary education, Alvernia University; master's degree in English as a second language, University of Turabo.

How I spend my free time: Holly likes to point out that during the school year I pretty much live at Millmont. To make up for it, we go to the beach in the summer whenever we can. I am a big Philadelphia Flyers fan and try to watch every game. I am always interested in reading books on evolution, history or behavioral psychology. That being said, by far my favorite way to spend free time is traveling with Holly.

Teacher who inspired me: Mrs. Barbara Voelker, who teaches here at Millmont, was my cooperating teacher when I was student teaching. She taught me all the little things that need to be taken care of so you can be at your best when teaching. She is always thinking about what is best for the kids, not about what is easiest to do. I try to keep that same attitude in my teaching.

Funniest classroom moment: I wanted to set up a math lesson by presenting the kids with a situation they could help me solve through addition. I started the lesson by saying, "Kids, I have a problem." Right after I said that, one of my students said very seriously, "You work with kids?" It may be the best one-liner I have heard while teaching.

If I weren't an educator, I'd be: I would definitely be doing something in the sciences. I watch and read everything I can on space and evolution. I also wouldn't mind playing hockey for a living, if the Flyers are interested.

You might not know: I have gone swimming with sharks twice in my life. I "waded" with sharks, as my dad likes to say, at the Camden, N.J., aquarium. I also swam with sharks in the Dominican Republic. I hope someday to go cage diving with great white sharks.