Mr. Conor Lane is a new addition to the theology and history department this school year. In the past 5 years, Lane taught social studies and history, but this will be his first year teaching Hebrew/Christian Scriptures along with freshman world history at Jesuit High School.
Lane would like the Jesuit community to know that he lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he taught freshman world history and senior government for 2 years. He was also able to live in South Africa for a semester in college where he studied abroad, and holds those places very special to his heart.
Lane is looking forward to being back in a Jesuit community after attending Boston College High School, a Jesuit preparatory school. He emphasized that being a former Jesuit student will help him create better connections with his students.
“I’ve really learned, as a student, the kind of Jesuit education side of things, and now as a teacher, being able to work with students through the pillars, like the grad at graduation,” Lane said.
One thing that Lane shared about his teaching philosophy is the importance of community.
“It starts off the beginning of the year by making a good, strong community in the classroom. Getting to know my students and [them] getting to know me,” Lane said.
Full Interview Transcript (edited lightly for length and content)
How long have you been in teaching?
This is my sixth school year in teaching. I taught two years in Hawaii for high school history and then I taught two years in social studies at another school for another year.
Where have you taught prior to Jesuit?
My first year teaching, I was in the PACE program, which is a program at UP where you teach at a Catholic school, so I taught two years at Damien Memorial School, which is in Honolulu, Hawaii, teaching freshman world history and senior government. The beginning of my first year was the pandemic, so I went remote pretty quickly in February of that year. Then I worked at St. Rose School which is a K-8 small Catholic school in Northeast Portland, and I was teaching social studies for middle school. Then last year, I was at Hosford Middle School, which is a Portland public school. So I’ve taught high school for a few years, in middle school predominantly, but now back in high school.
What classes will you teach this year?
I will be teaching two sections of freshman world history and then three sections of sophomore scripture.
Which classes are you looking forward to teaching?
I am excited for both. I am excited because I’ve never taught scripture before. I am looking forward to working through that with new students, with students who have been here, but I have never taught the subject. It will be interesting working through Hebrew and Christian scripture with them, and then world history. I am also excited because I have taught that before, so working with the freshmen through different kinds of events in times of history.
What excites you about teaching at Jesuit?
I went to a Jesuit high school myself in Boston, Boston College High School, so I’ve been in students’ shoes. I took sophomore scripture myself as a sophomore in high school, and freshman world history. I’ve really learned as a student the Jesuit education side of things, and now as a teacher, being able to work with students through the pillars, the grad at graduation, I’ve learned before myself and I’ve been there to be able to be in a role reversal and teach students in a Jesuit school.
What is something the community should know about you?
I have lived in Hawaii for two years in Honolulu, just outside the city. I lived there for two years, and then I lived in South Africa for one semester of college, so I lived and studied abroad. Both of those places are really special to my heart.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I think for me it starts off the beginning of the school year by making a good, strong community in the classroom. Getting to know my students, them getting to know me, and I think the community is the way to begin and then everything else falls from there.
