Making a Difference

Sometimes you don’t know the impact you have on someone until later in life. For Overlake Social Studies teacher, Kevin McKenna, that lesson was learned this year. McKenna was contacted by the University of Chicago after a freshman in the Class of 2025 (and a former Overlake Owl) nominated them. “I was honored. My hope as a teacher is that I have a real, life-changing impact on students. It is nice to know I had this kind of an impact.”

The former class of ’21 Owl nominated McKenna as an educator whose guidance has helped them along the path toward intellectual growth. McKenna was honored during a virtual event last week, attended by other colleagues and administrators from Overlake.

“As a social studies teacher, my goal is to get students to think critically about the world they inhabit, its history, and to find that thing they are willing to advocate and fight for,” explains McKenna. “If students leave my class with an ability and curiosity to ask critical questions about what is happening in their community, country, and world, I have done my job. Even better if they find their mark they want to make on the world.”

Congratulations Kevin. You can view past honorees here.