Faculty Feature | John McNally

Name: John McNally P'36, '40
Current role & department: Science Faculty, STEM Coordinator, AI Coordinator, Head Volleyball Coach, Team Botman Robotics Coach
Year you started at Albany Academy: 2012
Alma mater(s) and degrees: The College of Saint Rose – BS Applied Technology Education, MS Educational Psychology 
 

Who inspired you to become a teacher?

"For some people in my life, they saw me as a teacher before I was able to recognize it in myself. In high school, I was a member of Future Teachers of America, where Ms. Waters was one of the first people to see education in my future. In fact, my first teaching job came while I was still in high school, when I worked as an instructor in the Learn to Swim program at Voorheesville Schools.

My inspiration for becoming an educator came from teachers and mentors like Ms. Waters, Mr. Huth, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Turski, and Mrs. Vorse. Mr. Huth, Mr. Calhoun, and Mr. Turski were my technology teachers in middle and high school. They created an environment where I felt welcome, supported, and able to thrive. Mrs. Vorse was a health teacher and volleyball coach whom I deeply respected. Her example continues to influence the way I approach coaching today.

There was one defining moment, however, when I finally saw in myself what these teachers had already seen in me. During my freshman year of architecture school, I was sitting in the studio around midnight with a group of classmates. We were trying to accomplish an impossible amount of work in an impractical amount of time. Somewhere in the middle of that long night, I came to an important realization: I enjoyed the challenge and content of architecture school, but what I enjoyed even more was helping my classmates better understand the material and find enjoyment in it themselves.

That was the moment I knew. The part of architecture school that brought me the most fulfillment was not simply designing or creating—it was teaching. I realized that becoming a technology teacher was the right path for me."
 

Is there a particular lesson or project that you especially love to teach? What makes it meaningful for you and your students? 

"I love teaching open-ended problems. Watching and helping my students solve problems in novel ways is always part of my school-year highlight reel."

What is a fun or unexpected fact about you?

"I enjoy water skiing. I started when I was seven years old and have skied every summer since. Each summer my goal is to ski on as many bodies of water as possible. My favorite place to ski is Lake Onderdonk."

Favorite book or movie?

"Hands down, the Harry Potter books. They are the reason that I love to read."

What's your favorite Albany Academy tradition? 

"My favorite Academy tradition is our commitment to practicing gratitude as part of student well-being. If Dr. Martin Seligman ’60, the founder of positive psychology, were to walk through our halls today, I think he would be impressed by how deeply gratitude has become woven into our campus culture. Students regularly take time to reflect on the people who have made a difference in their lives, writing heartfelt letters of gratitude and, often, delivering those letters in person."

How do you see students growing or evolving during their time at Academy?

"My classroom is a special space that allows me to follow some students for multiple years. I enjoy watching freshmen and sophomores entering my classroom to learn the basics then leave two or three years later having taken a class that was a deep dive into something they are passionate about. I enjoy seeing students year after year; we really get to know each other."

What’s something you’re especially proud of in your career?

"I have earned a couple of awards during my professional career; The Upper School Teaching Award, the Americanism Award and the outstanding graduate student in Educational Psychology from The College of Saint Rose. Even with those accomplishments, I think I am most proud of the success of my students. I love hearing success stories from former students who left Academy and are making a positive impact on society."

Anything else you'd like to share?

"This school is a special place. From the moment you step onto campus, you can feel an intangible connection among the buildings, students, teachers, and staff. It is difficult to put that feeling into words, but if I had to choose one, it would be 'belonging.' There is a sense that everyone here is part of something larger than themselves—a community connected not just by a shared place, but by a shared sense of purpose. This is one of the many reasons why I choose this place for my daughters."