Dominic Calamia,  a North Penn graduate from the class of 2006 now teaches math here at the high school. Calamia was heavily influenced by North Penn and it weighed in his decision to return.

“North Penn for me was great; I loved it here, [which is] obviously why I’m back. I love to be here. I loved going to the football games, we won states my sophomore year. It was a great experience, especially since it was my first year [at the high school]. We also won states during indoor track my junior year in 2007. Those are two of my favorite memories of North Penn,” commented Calamia.

Calamia ran cross country, indoor and outdoor track all four years of high school earning twelve varsity letters. “Mr. Jones and Mr. Fluck were my coaches when I was here. And that’s how I first met Mr. Fluck – the man, the myth, the legend.” Not only was  Calamia an athlete, but he was also in symphonic band.

“When I graduated from North Penn, I knew that I wanted to do something that had to deal with kids; mainly because I had such a good upbringing here coming through the high school. It really had a positive effect on me as a person,” said Calamia.

Calamia also had one teacher in particular that greatly contributed to his appreciation of his upbringing here are North Penn.

“Mr. Barlow was an English teacher here and he was my senior year teacher.  I hated English when I was in high school but he really turned my whole perspective of English around. He taught me how important writing is. How you can really convey good messages through your writing and how you can argue without being violent. He was just an awesome teacher and had a great effect on me,” reflected Calamia.

Calamia went to Penn State University because it reminded him of a bigger North Penn and he enjoyed the atmosphere. So Calamia turned down running scholarships from West Chester and Bloomsburg and decided to focus on school and education. He went for special education then got a degree in math and English.  Calamia taught for a year at Horsham first then switched to North Penn for a year and a half as a building sub till being given the opportunity to teach Algebra II with Marget Marino and then two courses by himself.

“The transition from student to teacher has been funny because when you are a student you are more oblivious to some of the things that teachers have to deal with. You just show up and they talk and teach and then you think they go home and they are done. But when you come back and are a teacher you realize that there is so much work outside of just teaching that the students don’t know about. After making the transition I have so much more respect for the teachers especially after seeing the work that some of these teachers put in outside of class to make life easier for the students is really impressive.”

As well as learning the work load that teachers go through and all the effort that teachers put in, Calamia also had to learn how to get used to not referring to his former teachers, now co-workers as Mr.  & Mrs.

“It’s funny because I had Mr.Cumminsky for Algebra II and Mr. Jones was my coach and when I come back I’ll call Jones coach or I’ll call Chris Cumminsky Mr. Cumminsky and after a while they will stop me in the hallway and go Dom It’s alright if you call me Chris, it’s okay if you call me Jay. Same with Fluck it took me forever to start calling him Jon. But it’s funny because they pull me aside and say hey, you’re a grown man now it’s okay if you call me by my first name I won’t be offended.”

Calamia thoroughly enjoys being back at North Penn as well as now being able to co-teach alongside Marget Marino.

“It’s the best thing to have happened to me. She keeps you laughing all day long and has a great approach to teaching. Don’t get too caught up in all the little things and focus on what the kids need and having a good time while being level. Working with her has been a dream come true. Not only that but I couldn’t have gotten a nicer group of kids. They are all respectful and the faculty is nice as well.

When not teaching, Calamia also enjoys running, playing the drums, and playing hockey in a league with a few of his friends. As he gets accustomed to being back in the high school, Calamia looks forward to getting involved throughout the high school.