February 6, 2012
New teacher profile, Mary Mortlock
Mary Mortlock
Grew up in: Northumberland, UK
College: Loughborough University of Technology
High school stereotype: someone who likes to have fun
Currently reading: The Meaning of Matthew by Judy Shepard
Favorite book: Marley and Me by John Grogan
Favorite movie: To Kill a Mockingbird
After finishing her college education, Mary Mortlock got the chance to realize her dream of living in the United States. Although she had originally planned to only stay a few years, she and her husband decided to stay permanently for the benefit of their son and daughter, then aged nine and ten years old. Mortlock had decided to become a teacher after graduating high school, and, having taught math at the Weald School in West Sussex, England, she decided to continue teaching math at various American schools.
Mortlock taught at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia for a few years before transferring to California Polytechnic State University in 2001. When asked about how teaching here compares to teaching in the U.K., she said that “although the two systems are very similar, the big difference is that after the age of fifteen, students [in England] only take two or three subjects.” Overall, she is impressed with the vast number of opportunities presented at the upper school and finds the people to be “overall more knowledgeable.”
Outside of the classroom, Mortlock enjoys traveling and sailing. So far, she has been to 5 of 7 continents with the exception of Africa and Antarctica, and hopes to someday find the time to visit those two places.
The aspect of herself that she considers to be most interesting is her individuality. “I have done lots of different things,” she said, and added that her outspokenness and unique sense of humor combine to form her original perspective on life.
