In Room 108, students see John DeOrio as he welcomes them into his English class, ready for another day of instruction. Contrary to how he may appear at the door, this wasn’t his first career choice. An important event in his life inspired him to be a teacher. 

Chicago native and English teacher, DeOrio moved to Fort Lauderdale when he was in elementary school. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, a private school in the area, and was first introduced to the public school system as a student of Florida State University. At Lincoln High School, DeOrio took his first teaching job as a history teacher. 

“Public schools are just as good, if not better sometimes, than private schools,” DeOrio said. “I think public schools can offer students more. Students can have more options as far as … the route they take.” 

When he was a high school student, DeOrio was on his school wrestling team as well as a drummer in the band. At the time, DeOrio did not have his heart set on becoming a teacher.  

“I didn’t really find the love of learning or the real enjoyment for it until more when I got to college,” DeOrio said. “I felt that I was doing things in high school that felt forced because it was a requirement, instead of taking classes that I was passionate about. When you have that freedom to choose what you want to do, it creates more engagement and passion.”  

A simple trip to Hawaii was responsible for changing the course of his career. First studying business, DeOrio switched his major to pursue secondary education upon returning from a semester abroad.  

“The trip was a gamechanger for me, and I really enjoyed working with those kids and teachers,” DeOrio said. “The teachers’ philosophies on life were like mine, which was the impetus for the change that made me change my major to secondary education.”  

In Hawaii, he spent his time working with Honolulu students in need through a program partnered with YMCA, taking groups of middle school students out camping for a week or two to teach them about their island in addition to life skills. Specifically, he taught them the trees they can use, fruits they can eat and skills to appreciate their island.  

Now as a teacher of the past ten years, DeOrio tries to make his classes as enjoyable as possible.  

“If I didn’t have passion behind what I do, then there would be no reason for me to keep doing it,” DeOrio said. “I don’t think there is anything worse than having that role and responsibility of impacting so many people and not being passionate about it. I strive to be as welcoming and accepting as [I can as] a teacher.”