From medical student, to therapist, to teacher, Mr. Justin Clavadetscher is nothing short of versatile. Mr. Clavadetscher is a brand new teacher of I.S.S./Special Education English and Earth Science at Fort Hamilton, whose goal is to make his students feel good about themselves in his classroom in addition to having a fruitful learning experience.
Mr. Clavadetscher’s journey to teaching is surely out of the ordinary, since his initial plan was to become a doctor. During his time in medical school, he developed an interest in alternative medicine and psychology, causing him to drift from his first path. He earned a Ph.D. in psychology and began working at a public hospital as a therapist, which he loved. However, after eleven years, Mr. Clavadetscher had to leave the hospital due to budget cuts. That is when he came across an ad for teaching and, thankfully so, decided to try it out.
Mr. Clavadetscher has been a teacher for the past eight years, having previously taught at Edward R. Murrow and John Dewey High School, but he was also a waiter and DJ in his college years. He connects both of these work experiences to his current teaching, as he learned about several cultures while working at a restaurant, which helps him connect to the diverse population of New York City public schools, and enjoys incorporating music in his classroom.
Mr. Clavadetscher described the feeling of being “in the weeds” as a server. Because so many people were asking so much of him, he explains that he could not possibly pay enough attention to his customers as he wished. When he started teaching, he found that it could be similar to that sometimes and that his waitering job helped him accept that he could not be one hundred percent perfect at all times with every student.
In addition to his positive attitude and diligence in his classroom, Mr. Clavadetscher recognizes his part in the Fort Hamilton community as a whole. His gratitude towards the school is evident, and he goes as far as saying it is the most organized school he’s worked in.
“I want to enjoy myself when I’m at work,” he said. Along with the perk of spending long summers at the beach, he recognizes the value in his job and incorporates his personal style and experiences into his work.
