The St. Mary's Classroom

Social Studies and Religion
Eighth Grade – Homeroom
Mr. Kevin Muneio
kmuneio@stmarysstclair.org

I have been a teacher at St. Mary's for about nine years, now.  My first year here was my most difficult, having to adjust to and accommodate the many dynamics involved in the daily life of a teacher, but it was all very worthwhile and made me a better prepared and more seasoned teacher in subsequent years.  I believe God provides the fire and I provide the faith needed to quench it, thus allowing His eminence the final glory hidden in the challenges of each year.  My most unique experience here involved that same class, the class of 2000.  That was the year I was able to experience teaching one of my family members, graduating in 2000 Miss Stephanie Beyer, my niece.  That year was also the year I had the unique opportunity of teaching my first blind student.  Truly, I am not sure if I learned more or the students learned more that year.  I hope it was the latter.

I earned my Bachelor's Degree from Central Michigan University and am now working on my Master's Degree.  I am the father of three handsome boys, and my wife, of 17 years, Mrs. Kelly Muneio, and I are expecting our fourth child this August.  My family happily resides on a small farm in Richmond Township.

I teach grades five thru eight.  I teach social studies and religion.  I also serve as the advisor to the yearbook and to the St. Mary's Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.  Also, this year I am working to establish a debate club.

I serve as the technology committee chairperson and have enjoyed working with the SCRIP committee in establishing a regular technology "refresh" plan that allows for upgrading the technology lab every year, while also working to answer the daily technology needs in every classroom and throughout the entire parish campus.  This year I am working with other members of the curriculum and textbook committee to update the social studies textbooks from second thru the eighth grades.
 
Why do I teach?  I have always loved the youthful and explorative minds of young Christians.  I love their appetite for knowledge, direction and genuine, loving mentorship. I love the challenge they present me every day to live up to my promise to God to teach the children with a sense of duty and honor, to stand steadfast on moral ground and to share the values of Christ with coming generations every day.  Each day I thank the Lord for allowing me to, "do what I love, and love what I do."  I could not do it without Him in my life.

The first day I taught at St. Mary's, I knew this was a special place where hearts and souls are formed.  I knew I wanted to be here as long as God needed me to be.  It is my prayer that He will continue to see me fit and "affective" in this ministry.

My overriding belief in education is that we must never forget where we came from and we must strive to keep the balance in this crucial process of learning by keeping it somewhat simple, yet progressive in its scope.  We must focus on what got us here, as Americans, and continue to share the still unique "free" nature of our being - our culture with the greater world.  This is our duty, one assigned by and subscribed to by greater men than me.
 
Finally, my future in education and at St. Mary's lies in furthering my education so that I will be prepared to step into God's next assignment for me, no matter what direction it may take me.  In the great words of Robert Browning, "All service ranks the same with God:  With God, whose puppets, best and worse, Are we; there is no last nor first."