Ken MacGregor, 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Mayfield Woods Middle School

December 10th, 2015

Ken MacGregor is both a teacher and wrestling coach at Mayfield Woods Middle School. He has been with the school for 23 years, his entire career. MacGregor follows the same philosophy when teaching or coaching, saying, “We have to set up an environment that’s safe for the kids that they want to come to. I provide a place where we can make mistakes. We learn from each other. It’s a family approach.”

With a student-centered teaching style, MacGregor views his wrestling coaching as a means to better connect with his students. “I never miss a chance to build rapport with the kids, through wrestling and I chaperone everything I can, because it helps with instruction,” MacGregor said. “Some kids are more coachable than teachable because it’s in a different setting.”

The wrestling program is one of several after-school options available at Mayfield Woods through a partnership with Bridges Over Howard County. It’s perhaps the only after-school wrestling offering through a middle school in the area. The wrestling program, open to both boys and girls, takes place throughout the school year for approximately 20 students with sport instruction, as well as homework tutoring and general mentoring. The Mayfield Woods wrestling program, though non-competitive, prepares the students for the high school level sport.

Mayfield Woods 6th grade team leader Tim Pruett praises the wrestling program with, “Ken provides opportunities to kids to get involved in wrestling who might not have it otherwise. He really helps improve kids’ lives. He helps develop and rewards responsibility, so kids strive to be the next round of leaders.”

To MacGregor, the mentoring is the most important aspect of the wrestling program. “I talk to the kids about making good choices; I talk about academics,” he said. “Bottom line, for me, the motivation for coaching is an extension of my own upbringing. I had good mentors growing up that helped steer me in the right direction. Lots of kids need that.”

MacGregor, who was educated in Howard County, was an all-county wrestler in high school and still remembers his coach at Oakland Mills, Steve Carnahan. “Wrestling is part of what made me who I am today,” MacGregor said. “The sacrifice, the amount of commitment you had to give to the sport translated into my work ethic and how I work with kids.”

MacGregor’s social studies career choice was also influenced by his upbringing. With his father working for the Department of Defense, MacGregor lived in Germany, Italy and Korea when he wasn’t in Howard County. He attributes his becoming a geography and world culture teacher to his many oversea experiences.

MacGregor worked first as a special education paraeducator and later as a 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher before finding his calling working with 6th graders. Upon joining Mayfield Woods right after college, he found mentors at the school, especially with his parents abroad at the time. He recalls teachers taking him in and acting as surrogate parents. From them, he said he learned about the kind of teacher and father he wanted to be. “They were my family,” MacGregor said.

MacGregor says he loves his job, with “teaching school is an adventure every day, always different. Not everyone is as excited [as me] to go to work every day.” Pruett recognizes the  passion in MacGregor, saying, “Ken is a tremendous teacher. Kids respond amazingly to him. He has a love of the subject. He has a deep caring and compassion for his students. He sets high expectations and works tirelessly to get them there.”

Mayfield Woods Middle School Principal Melissa Shindel agrees. “Being new to Mayfield, I was quickly impressed by Mr. MacGregor’s “can do” attitude and “kid-centered” approach as a member of the Mayfield family,” Shindel said. “Students love him–not just because they think he’s funny and friendly, but also because he challenges their thinking and broadens their perspectives. Mr. MacGregor is creative, dynamic and approachable, and attends and participates in events outside of school regularly–he embodies the best qualities of a teacher, mentor and colleague.”

MacGregor explained that he returned to HCPSS to teach, saying “I wanted to give back to the school system because I had a good education and was very well prepared for college.” He has a bachelor’s in secondary social studies education from the University of Maryland, College Park and a master’s in special education from Loyola College in Baltimore.