Dual-Certification Doubled MJ McGillicuddy’s Preparation as a Teacher
By Judith Kelliher
Deciding to be a teacher was an easy career choice for MJ McGillicuddy ’24. He had plenty of role models, like his mom, grandparents, and other family members. Becoming a music teacher was initially on his radar due to his excelling at playing the tuba, including performing as second chair for the New England Music Festival all four years of high school. But he knew he lacked the passion necessary to teach music since it came so naturally to him.
So, he switched his teaching aspirations. As a high school athlete playing cross country and baseball, McGillicuddy set goals for himself and went through the process of learning how best to move his body, become better at a sport, and live a healthier life.
With that new direction, he eventually found his passion at Springfield College.
“I fell in love with the process of physical education and health education because I had to put so much time, effort, and concentration into achieving those goals,” he said. “Since then, I have truly enjoyed my career choice and felt as if I made the exact right one for me.”
After earning a Physical Education and Health/Family and Consumer Sciences degree from Springfield College in 2024, McGillicuddy began working as a health teacher in the Agawam (Mass.) Public Schools. In that time, he has seen a new push in high school education moving away from content-based learning and moving towards skills-based education. He still teaches his students information and content, but uses the lens of the skill being used. For example, in his Relationship Unit, they use skills such as communication, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and more.
“Because I teach skills, I also have had to do a lot of self-reflecting on whether I am achieving the skills I am teaching my students,” he said. “Do I manage my stress as efficiently as I am trying to teach my students to do so? Am I able to advocate for myself like I am teaching my students to? I found in some cases I was lacking and needed to change some of my own practices.”
A typical school day starts at 4 a.m. when McGillicuddy goes to the gym, as he says, “to get my sweat on.” Breakfast and prepping for the day’s lessons come next. As a health educator, he teaches five periods throughout the day on the “health skill” that they are focusing on each day. After school, he also runs the school’s Basketball Club “so I can keep my PE brain active and sharp.”
McGillicuddy credits the dual-certification Physical Education and Health/Family and Consumer Sciences program with fully preparing him to bring his teaching “A game” to his students. He notes that the Springfield College faculty teaching those classes have unique perspectives on these topics and teaching styles that students can draw from to use in their own practices. And more importantly, he added, being a dual major means more teaching experiences than offered by other programs.
“I gained massive amounts of confidence in the classroom from teaching health classes in my Health Methods, pre-practicum, and practicum courses. The extra work is a turn-off for some students, as you do need to take several extra classes, but the added benefits of the program would make anyone more prepared for a full-time teaching job,” he said.
Another benefit of McGillicuddy’s program at Springfield College, which he described as the “pinnacle” of his PEHE experience, was the opportunity to attend the SHAPE America and Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) conventions during his four undergraduate years. Both organizations are dedicated to supporting health and physical education and providing resources to educators in the field.
MAHPERD, in particular, has been a career-enhancing experience for McGillicuddy. At the conventions, while an undergraduate, he was an observer as well as a presenter, served on the MAHPERD Council of Future Professionals, and received the Outstanding Future Professional Award in his senior year. He is currently a member of the MAHPERD board of directors, including serving as vice president-elect of Health.
“Having such strong support from Springfield College to attend conferences, both logistically and financially, was truly a blessing,” he said. “The sessions I attended and the people I have met at these events have changed my career drastically for the better.”
