English teacher Christopher McAdamis will not be returning to teach at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) for the 2024-2025 school year. 

“I was saddened to be losing the coworker I started at Daniel Pearl (Magnet High School) with but I’m really excited that he gets to move on and start new,” English teacher Francesca Gunther said. “I know he’s excited so I’m excited for him.” 

McAdamis has taught 10th grade English, 10th grade Honors English, Expository Reading and Writing and AP English Language and Composition at DPMHS for the past two years. Starting his time here after a complete turnover of the school’s English department, McAdamis’s departure will mean half of the English department at DPMHS is gone. McAdamis’s main motivation for not returning was a need for a larger school environment. 

“I’m looking for a larger school and bigger team,” McAdamis said. “There are more solutions for collaboration working across departments.” 

McAdamis feels that a bigger school would allow him to better unify with his peers and stimulate collaboration. For the 2024-2025 school year, he will be teaching at El Camino Real Charter High School.

McAdamis still notes that he’s gained experience and good memories during his time working at DPMHS. Small classes gave him the ability to get to know students very well within the tight-knit community. 

“I’ve gained a lot more self-reliance and independence because it’s such a small school and small department,” McAdamis said. “I’ll just miss the amount of different people that I meet and the students.” 

 McAdamis hopes to have made a positive impact on his students and to have inspired them to find joy in learning. 

“He taught me a lot of things and was always understandable,” senior Vanessa Santos said. “My favorite memory is when he reads books and makes it more realistic by making voices…it makes it more fun.”