In Our Schools: Dave Woodley, Pottstown High School
He teaches management information systems, history and government, and is the Trojan Man mascot handler.
WRITTEN BY READING EAGLE
POTTSTOWN, PA —
I grew up in: Pottstown, and reside there now.
Family: Father, Paul; mother, Diane.
Education: Pottstown High School, Montgomery County Community College and East Stroudsburg University.
How I spend my free time: Working out, running, winning escape rooms, sporting events, traveling, video games and reading.
Teacher who inspired me: Mr. Drew Dangler and Mr. Jeff Delaney.
Funniest classroom moment: Whenever my voice cracks in the middle of class like I am a teenager all over again, and it happens daily!
If I weren't an educator, I'd be: A nonprofit worker. I enjoy working with many different charities, from St. Jude to Mascots for a Cure and Connor's Cure, so I would probably do something with nonprofit cancer research if I wasn't in a classroom.
Explain the Trojan Man mascot program: The Trojan Man program is essentially a mentor program, where the students also perform as Trojan Man at different school, sporting and community events. There are 22 students who were hand-selected to be a part of the program based on their academics, behavior and outgoing personalities. Along with being Trojan Man, the students also participate in fundraising activities throughout the year, including our annual toy drive for local organizations and our work with Mascots for a Cure, which works to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer. The most rewarding part of this program is seeing the growth in each of them as individuals outside of the suit. Many of the students are with me in the program for four years, and you can see the growth in their mindset and leadership abilities over the course of the high school career. It is a good feeling when you can see that you made a difference in their lives the same way they made a difference in yours. Together, we are making the world a better place — one Trojan Man at a time!
You might not know: I played the drums in high school, and in senior year, we won the “Best Drumline” award at Boyertown (cavalcade) when no one expected it.