The CHIEF May 2023

New Faces: Mr. Zega Interview By: Lauren Russow

Mr. Zega is the Plane Geometry and Algebra 2 Trig teacher at PTHS. He is an alumni and graduated from Illinois State University. He has worked at our school for two years and describes our high school as welcoming. What he finds most enjoyable about being a teacher is being able to work with students to help them understand and enjoy mathematics. He student-taught math at Dwight High School for a year before coming back to Pontiac, thinking it would be the perfect place to continue starting his teaching career. Mr. Zega’s favorite memories from working here surround the extracurricular activities at our school. He enjoys coaching basketball and he also is excited that all of the sports-related teams are successful. From cheerleading to basketball, the clap outs and pep rallies have made him overjoyed. His advice for freshmen is, “Be involved in whatever you enjoy, communicate with your teachers if you are struggling, and always try your best.” He is involved in coaching the Freshman Boys Basketball team. He thinks students should be involved in his team because it is very fun and the basketball team is very strong. He also states that even if basketball is not your passion, you should find something that you are interested in. Whether it is anything from band to E-sports, he thinks it is important to be involved in something. In his free time, Mr. Zega enjoys playing video games with friends, watching movies with his wife, and taking his dog on walks. His favorite song is “Good Things Fall Apart” by Illenium. His favorite book is Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. His favorite quote is by Abraham Lincoln: “Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” Mrs.Telford is our school librarian. Like many of the teachers at our school, she is an alumni! She attended Heartland College and Spoon River College in Macomb. A career change led her to becoming a librarian because she wanted to do something that was more rewarding than her last job. Mrs. Telford enjoys getting to know the PTHS students, learning about their favorite books, and getting feedback on what books should be in the library. Although she has only worked at PTHS for six months, she has many favorite memories, including the Veteran's Day Assembly and learning that a few of her former teachers are now her co workers. As a reult, she gets to now connect with them on a different level. She also enjoys meeting the students and assisting them with their literature needs. Her hobbies include watching her children play at their sporting events, boating, playing golf, and spending time with her family and friends. She loves all types of music, from classic rock to some of today's hip hop. One of her favorite books is The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. Her favorite anonymous quote is: “Enjoy the little things in life, for one day, you will look back and realize they were the big things.” Her tip for freshmen to have a successful school year is to be confident in themselves and their abilities, get involved in activities and clubs, stay on top of schoolwork, and make good choices. New Faces: Mrs. Telford Interview By: Lauren Russow