Mr. McGarrity

Q: What are you teaching at West?

A: “I am a teacher assistant with the bridges program. So, I don’t teach a specific subject.”

Q: Are you a new teacher, or coming from another school? If so, what and where?

A: “So I have been a teacher assistant in Collinsville before. I subbed here last year, and then when a position opened up, I was able to come on full-time this year.”

Q: How was your first semester at West?

A: “Awesome. I love being here, I love being with the students that I work with. It was great to come back to a part of the program that I’ve worked with before. That means a lot to me.”

Q: What is your favorite part about Belleville West?

A: “Being here at West, I like the fact that we have so much connection between bridges and the main campus. We send students over there to work, and we always feel welcome when we’re over there. It’s great interacting with the students on the main campus. I just love the community feel of all of it.”

Mr. Rodney Taylor

Q: Is West the first school you’ve worked at, or are you coming from a different school?

A: It is. It’s my first year working as a School Resource Officer, first semester and everything. 

Q: How was your first semester?
A: So far it’s been pretty good I think, it’s gotten a little crazy at times, but we’re getting back on track and it’s been good so far.

Q: What is your favorite part about Belleville West?

A: The favorite part for me, I think, has been the comfortableness, like I graduated here if you didn’t know, I was here from ‘06 to 2010. So I see a lot of familiar faces around here, like teachers and administration who were here when I was here, and it’s kind of a warm comforting feeling.

Mr. Nicholas Rathgeb

Q: What do you teach at West?

A: I’m a freshman biology teacher.

Q: Are you a new teacher, or are you coming from a different school?

A: I’m coming from a different school, this is my 14th year of actually teaching.

Q: How was your first semester?

A: It’s been great, I’m really happy with how welcoming the staff has been.

Q: What’s your favorite part about Belleville West?
A: Probably the community atmosphere, like the science department works really well together, and multiple people have offered me help or assistance if I ever need it, and then even administration and just everyone has been very welcoming.