“When I had the opportunity to teach something I loved, I couldn’t turn it down,” said newly hired history teacher Eric Kursinski. “The greater expanse of knowledge you have, the more marketable you are in the world.”

This year, Clark welcomed Kursinski as its new AP and regular U.S. History teacher. Kursinski had been a long-term substitute for photography teacher Kelly Brinker last year, and has since been offered a probationary position.

“The first time I actually stepped foot in Clark was January 24 and I had gotten a phone call from the District offering me a long-term position and asked if I was interested, and I said ‘yes, of course’,” Kursinski said. “I came in, met Ms. Melone, then sat down with Ms. Kortoshian and Mr. Dall and they told me I would start that Monday. I really liked teaching photography so I tried to do a good job.”

Having originally earned his degree in social studies at Northern Arizona University, Kursinski took up photography on the side because art and technology had always been interesting to him. Eventually, he got his second degree in photography and is now interested in earning another degree in child development.

“I really enjoy school and I had a lot of really good teachers. Usually when you ask someone who wants to be a teacher they either had a really good teacher they want to do justice to or had a bad teacher who they want to show how it’s done,” Kursinski said. “Mine is a combination of the two, but I am really looking forward to this year.”

Adjusting to the complex bell schedule is not always easy, and Kursinski said he understood just how complicated the system could be when he first started his position. “The first two weeks or so when I was doing photography I couldn’t comprehend the even and odd day schedule, so I would be doing something in one of the classes, and they would tell me I already told them that,” Kursinski said. “I’m glad I got to do that so when I came in this year I came in prepared for the bell schedule. I think 90-minute blocks can do a lot more than 45-minute blocks can do, and you can do variety of activities instead of just one.”

Kursinski said he considers Clark a very close-knit family, and appreciates the fact that most teachers talk to and know each other. “So far, so good, it’s been fun. I’m teaching juniors and juniors are amazing, so I enjoy that aspect of it,” Kursinski said.