Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/1209300
He taught at High Jump for two years, from 2007 to 2009. "My initial drive to [teach at High Jump] was for the experience. I was contemplating a career switch, and I wasn't sure teaching was for me." Mahoney found the experience fun and rewarding, and started grad school while teaching pre-algebra to seventh grade High Jumpers. "They were a great group of students who were so thoughtful, the kind of students you really want in your classroom," he said. "It takes a special type of student who wants to come to school on a Saturday." Later on, while student teaching at a neighborhood school, he met the Latin math department chair at a job fair he attended at Parker. "I think my experience at High Jump gave me an advantage," he said. Part of Mahoney's interview at Latin involved teaching a class and he was touched when a number of High Jump alumni came into the classroom beforehand to offer him hugs and well wishes. Lasting Legacy High Jump holds a special place for many of its alumni. McAllister worked as a TA in the writing workshop for a summer during college. "It was so wonderful to give back to a program that has given so much to me," he said. Rojas-Castillo was asked to emcee High Jump's annual benefit fundraiser last year. She didn't hesitate for a moment, even though she had to take a day off work to do so. "That's how much the program means to me. High Jump made me who I am," she said. Trussell also has volunteered, donating finance books and teaching a Wall Street 101 class on a Saturday several years ago. This year he gave the keynote address at the annual benefit and talked about "how literal the name of the organization is, how it allows students to high jump over life's hurdles," he said. Nicholson is overjoyed with the longevity and reach of a small program that began 30 years ago with only 16 students and has grown to almost 400 students spread across three campuses. "There are days that I just pinch myself. Who would've thought?" she said. "It's been a terrifically satisfying ride." Nineteen of the 25 High Jump alumni currently attending Latin. 30