By Taylor Conley
With the start of the second semester, a new life science teacher introduces fresh ideas and decades of expertise in teaching astronomy, English, and biology. To the job, he brings nearly 27 years of experience.
Mr. Gregory Lovelady has just recently joined the Tempe Prep teaching staff, while having been interested in TPA for a long time. He has two daughters, one of which is a senior at TPA.
Throughout the years, he’s taught not just in Arizona, but places like Hawaii, England, and Italy, with experience in Waldorf schools, too. Besides teaching, Mr. Lovelady has been a tour guide in Maui, Hawaii, a waiter, a cook, and a landscaper. He used to take tourists on the long Te Hana road, through a jungle, and up the top of a 10,000-foot volcano. Mr. Lovelady enjoys hobbies like playing the flute, looking up at the stars, and going to the opera. Although he’s taken on many jobs, teaching is surely his favorite.
Mr. Lovelady was born in Hollywood, Calif., and lived there for most of his younger years, while his parents worked as teachers. He went to college in many different places, from Oregon to California, but he finished at the Union Institute in Sacramento. After switching around majors multiple times, trying out art, language, and biology, Mr. Lovelady ended up as an astronomy major.
One of Mr. Lovelady’s most life-altering events occurred when he decided to take on a 1-year job teaching English at a school in Bologna, Italy. A couple days after he arrived, he ended up meeting his future wife. That 1-year occupation teaching English ended up lasting 13 years. In 2011 he and his family moved all the way from Bologna to Arizona.
Mr. Lovelady admires Tempe Prep students’ sense of wonder and inquiry. “Even after 27 years, there are still surprises.” He plans to stick around for as long as possible. He feels that Tempe Prep students have the ability to initiate interesting questions and discussions in class with ease. “I like how engaged students are here, it’s really different from a lot of other places I’ve taught.”
Overall, Mr. Lovelady has shown great potential and aptitude as a life science teacher. He is certainly a great addition to the Tempe Prep teaching staff.