When you’re watching a football game, there is so much going on. Plays are being called, the players are figuring out the best way to score, the coaches are thinking how to win, and the fans are yelling about how their team is winning or losing.
When you walk into a classroom, the students might be talking, or doing some type of assignment. When walking into a club meeting, you’ll see people talking and maybe games going on for everyone.
Behind all of that chaos, calm, and fun, is Mr. Mike Sheehan.
Sheehan is a member of faculty here at Gibbons. He is an assistant football coach, and was once the head coach. He teaches 10th grade English, and he is also the moderator of the film club.
Although he has many responsibilities, he still finds time to do many things around our school, including helping out other teachers, making sure everything is running smoothly, and being there for his students.
“I coached my first eight years as JV coach, JV head coach, then varsity head coach. I took a few years off when my kids were younger, and then I’ve been back the past five seasons,” Mr. Sheehan said.
He’s worked at this school for 23 years, as both an educator and coach. Throughout that time, he has become close with both his fellow educators, his students, and his players.
When he originally started working at Gibbons, he was the head varsity football coach. He ended up stepping down from that position to head JV football coach. He has shown what a good coach he is through his athletes. On and off the field, he strives to push them to do their best and whatever they’re doing.
“As a coach, coach Sheehan is intense, but he also cares a lot about the players he coaches,” Maxwell Corin said. “On and off the field, coach Sheehan cares for his players as he wants to shape them into better players, and more importantly better men.”
“Coach Sheehan definitely pushes us to be our best selves on and off the field. He is encouraging at all times and is a great role model for us players.”
Corin described Mr. Sheehan as “intense, caring, and encouraging.”
In his English class, Mr. Sheehan pushes his students to do their best. If there’s something going on in your life at home, you can always tell Mr. Sheehan and he will do whatever he can to help you out.
“As a teacher, Mr. Sheehan is very understanding and just a fun teacher in general. He always has good assignments for us to do,” Elyse Johnson said. “He is a very caring teacher that keeps up with our lives and always asks how days, weekends, or breaks went.”
“My favorite part about being in his class is that he is always understanding of everything.” Johnson continued. “If you need to get work done for another class he will let you do that work for the most part as long as you did his assignment later.”
Johnson described him as, “caring, sarcastic, and smart.”
Film club holds meetings after school, and they talk about some new movies coming out, what movies they are excited to see soon, and so much more.
Sheehan sets up these meetings a couple times a month, so that students may have time after school to have fun and talk about movies with their friends, or meet new friends that like the same things as you.
“Film club started informally about 15 years ago, and about 12 years ago we had it formed as an official club,” Sheehan said.
“My favorite part about the film club is that we get to talk about stuff. We talk about what movies are coming out, what movies we’re excited to see, what movies we have seen, stuff like that. It’s nice to just be able to talk with people who like the same kind of movies.” Rogelio Nuncio-Coronado, one of the film club’s members, said.
At the end of the day, Mr. Sheehan just wants his students to have fun and learn.
“He’s made English the most fun English class that I’ve ever had. His presence and his overall character make this class more exciting and more fun to go to.” Johnson said.
