“What was your biggest struggle to become a teacher, and what steps did you take to overcome it?” He explained to me that the most challenging part was taking all the high-level math classes at once, including Calculus 3, Differential equations, and History of math. Mr. Dunnick explained to me that he used to not study, and these classes showed him that he had to. The step he took to overcome this was spending 9 hours (that’s two hands 0: ) at the Library.
After we talked about his challenges, I asked him about his favorite dress day at Cambridge-Isanti High School. His response was Pink day, because he got to borrow a lot of clothes from his wife and wear a lot of pink.
“Who is your best friend at the high school and what’s your favorite memory with them?” Mr. Dunnick’s response was to Mr. Grabowska. When we were talking, his favorite memory was when he did a LINDA workout, which is a deadlift, bench, and a percentage of your bodyweight, and the workout took about 20 minutes. While discussing this, we have a quote from Mr. Dunnick: “You should put in there I’m stronger than Grabowska.”
“What was your reason for becoming a teacher?” So when I asked this question, we got into a conversation about how he had always loved math and that he had originally planned to be an accountant. Then he decided it wouldn’t really be fun. So he asked himself, “What can I do every day that I love doing, without knowing what happens?” And then he just figured out that a math teacher was the way to go, because he wouldn’t know what a kid would say or do, he wouldn’t know what he was gonna say or do, and it just felt right to him.
I wanted to learn more about his past, so I asked about his favorite high school memory. His answer was that he and his buddies would hang out together, stay up all night, and play video games.
What are your favorite establishments? His favorite restaurant is Cambridge Bar and Grill. His favorite store is Home Depot. And his favorite thing to do is to go bowling with his wife.
I wanted to know how he saw himself, so I asked him which of our Bluejacket character traits (Honesty, Compassion, Self-Discipline, Responsibility, and Respect) best describes him. He says it is responsibility because he likes to take on tasks.
What advice do you have for seniors graduating who are nervous about what’s after high school? He said, “Find what you love, something you can do every day, and just chase it.”
Fun Fact: Mr. Dunnick was in a Christian Rock band growing up as lead/rhythm guitar (he had 1-inch bangs)
What would you teach if you didn’t teach math? He responded by explaining that he loves exercise and fitness, and he would love to take a class on creating a workout program and tracking, or something like that. He also brought up that it’d be interesting if we had a history class that taught from 1980 to the present day to show how the present day was shaped.
How did you meet your wife? He explained that his Uncle was his wife’s pastor, and that the church was doing some sort of lock-in. At first, Mr. Dunnick didn’t think too much about dating her because of a height difference at the time. Then they reconnected at 23 and just talked it out.
Mr. Dunnick’s Hobbies
- Anything Outdoors
- Weightlifting and Exercise
- Play Guitar
- Pitch Softball
- Play Games ( his favorite is Dark Souls)
What if Mr. Dunnick had a dream weekend with no budget? Where would he go and what would he do? He said he would like to do something simple. He told me that every weekend, he and his wife would go to the north shore and to places where you could build a bonfire and listen to the waves. He said a weekend away would be awesome, where he could also get peace and quiet.
What motivates Mr. Dunnick each day? His kids motivate him every day, and he said what motivates him in school is doing everything he can for students.
What goal is he currently pursuing? He jokingly says he’s trying to pay off his student loans. He added his dream job is to help with creating the math curriculum.
