Day in the Life: Mr. Mussari
Ever been interested in what teachers do while we aimlessly scroll through Tiktok and Instagram? Here Saint Ursula’s new design teacher, Mr. Anthony Mussari, gives an insight into his average Thursday.
7:00 - 7:15 Morning Routine
As much as Mr. Mussari wishes he was a morning person, it is “quite difficult to get out of bed in the mornings” thus he has perfected his morning routine so that he can be up and on the road in just 15 minutes.
7:15 - 7:45 Morning Commute
His drive to school typically takes a little under 30 minutes depending on traffic, but he recently has “(like all the cool kids) been getting into audiobooks” and is slowly but surely making progress on the Lord of The Rings.
7:45 - 8:00 Daily Vibe Check
During the downtime between getting to school and students arriving is for “me to take a moment of meditation and do a mental checklist of everything I need to do to be a successful teacher.” Mr. Mussari will pick the day's genre of music, write out the attendance question on the board, and check his inbox to ensure that he is ready to begin his day.
8:00 - 9:20 "D" Bell - Design Foundations
Starting the school day with Design Foundations, “we explore the basics of design through various principles and elements.” Currently he and his students are exploring texture. The students are identifying texture in magazines to create a series of thumbnails that they will be recreating by hand.
9:25 - 10:45 "C" Bell - Design Foundations
Same as the previous bell! “As a new teacher I appreciate the ability to take a second shot at making sure I don't forget to mention anything - yes, even teachers learn every day from their mistakes!”
10:45 - 11:15 5th Bell
Mr. Mussari takes the next 30 minutes of downtime to “get ahead on some grading (or more likely get caught up on some grading).”
11:20 - 12:40 "B" Bell - Plan
Following 5th bell, Mr. Mussari spends his plan bell finishing his coffee, responding to emails, and writing out lesson plans. He “also uses this time to stretch my legs and go check my mailbox or refill my coffee in the faculty lounge.”
12:40 - 1:35 Lunch
When it comes to lunch he is still figuring out his routine. Personally “I enjoy mixing up the location but on days where I have already had a long break I like to pair that with lunch duty so I can chat with some other teachers and students.”
1:40 - 3:00 "A" Bell- Design 2
He said that “in Design 2 we build upon the elements and principles we addressed in foundations and use that to create some awesome stuff!” The students are currently in the midst of learning how to use Photoshop with a project to create smartphone wallpapers.
3:00 - 4:00 Wrap up and Head Home
By now “I am ready to get everything all set for another exciting day and head home!” Mr. Mussari likes to clear out his inbox, making sure I have nothing pending prior to my departure as it helps him clear his head.
4:00 - 5:00 Continue Designing!
Once home, Mr. Mussari continues designing! He said that “one of the big drivers for being a teacher for me was the ability to see direct impact with what I was doing but that doesn't mean I don't love design. I still am fortunate to continue working part time as a Digital Marketing Manager and I love being able to stay on top of current trends in Design and bring that to the classroom and bring the concepts I teach in class to my work. Hannah Montana said it best: 'I've got the best of both worlds.'"
5:00 - 6:00 Time to Run
He has recently adopted a hobby of running as he finds it “very therapeutic to end the day on a nice run to clear my head.” This specific hobby is to prepare for the Flying Pig Marathon he will be running with his brothers in May.
6:00 - 7:30 Dinner Time
After running, “I switched gears to get dinner started for me and my wife.” Some quick meal planning on Sunday makes the decision-making process easy.
7:30 - 10:00 After Dinner Relaxation
Once dinner has been cleaned up and put away, “my wife and I like to relax with some TV, do a puzzle, or play video games. Tonight was a video game night and I got to play some Fortnite with my brothers online.” Mr. Mussari said that “dubs are a perfect way to end the night.”