For this Teacher Feature, we talked to Shaler Area Digital Photography and Visual Communications teacher and resident New Jersey Devils and New York Yankees fan, Mr. John Fucsko.

Q: How long have you been a teacher, and how did you end up here at Shaler?

A: This school year is my 18th year as an educator and my 13th here at Shaler.  I started my career as a high school Woodshop and middle school computer teacher in the Aliquippa School District.  After a few years there, I left and accepted a woodshop teaching position at the Watson Institute’s Friendship Academy.  Woodshop was never my passion, I got into Technology Education for Graphic Design and Photography.  When I came across the opening here at Shaler in the summer of 2012, I jumped at the chance to finally secure a position for the courses I dreamed of teaching.  I had already started my next school year at Friendship Academy when I interviewed here.  I accepted the position on a Friday evening and started three days later on that Monday, so it all happened pretty quickly.

Q: How did you get into photography and become a teacher of it?

A: My dad. He got into photography at an early age and growing up, no matter where we went, he would take his camera equipment with him.  When he passed away two years ago, many people said to me that they will always remember him with a camera around his neck.  He loved taking photos no matter where we went.  His favorite camera was his Nikon F2 (from the 1970s) and when I was a teenager, he had a broken F2 that he got repaired and gave to me.  That’s where my passion for photography truly began.  My wife is into photography as well and between the two of us, we have millions of photos both printed and digitally.  When we first started dating, we would go around and take pictures anywhere and everywhere.  Now I’m 40 years old and photography is just part of me.  I still love to take pictures no matter where I go.  I might not always have a camera around my neck like my dad did, but at least there is one in my pocket at all times!

Q: Who’s your favorite band or musician?

A: Alkaline Trio

Q: What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?

A: I’m a huge fan of Pop-Punk/Emo music.  My favorite concert I’ve ever been to was at the old Rock Jungle at Station Square back in 2002 where I saw New Found Glory, Finch, Something Corporate, and Further Seems Forever.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a teacher?

A: Seeing my students grow.  Even though I only have students for a semester at a time, seeing how they develop skills and grow as graphic designers and photographers from the beginning of a semester to the end is incredible.  

Q: What was your first car?

A: A turbo charged 1986 Chrysler LeBaron

Q: What would your last meal be?

A: Cheeseburgers Sliders from White Castle

Q: What is your favorite student slang word or term?

A: None.  I’m an angry old man who can’t stand today’s slang words and phrases.

Q: What is the best picture you’ve ever taken?

A: To pick one out of so many taken in a lifetime is a tough one.  My wife and I once carved our initials on a tree when we first started dating.  That tree was on the outskirts of Lake Edinboro.  Back then, when you used a film camera, you didn’t have instant gratification of seeing the photo you took.  I had a vision to have the tree on the left and to have everything else blurry in the photo.  Nowadays, you can use portrait mode on your phone to get a picture like that but with film, you had to know what settings to use on the all manual camera.  After patiently waiting to get my roll of film back from being developed, it was exactly as I hoped it would look.  

Q: What’s the coolest place you’ve ever visited?

A: I went to Paris, France last year with my wife. We also visited Normandy for a day.  It was crazy knowing I was walking along the same shores that the troops did in World War II.  

Q: If you had to live somewhere other than Pittsburgh, where would it be?

A: I’d go back to the New Jersey/New York City area. 

Q: With you being a big Yankees fan, I was wondering what your thoughts were on the World Series?

A: …

Q: If you could meet someone (dead or alive) and have a 30 minute conversation with them, who would it be and what would you talk about?

A: Frank Sinatra. He’s someone I always admired growing up.  I also grew up in a household that listened to his music and watch his movies, which I still enjoy to this day.  I’ve wanted to meet him since I was a kid.  I would ask him about the journey he went on starting his career as singing waiter (who once served my Grandmother) to gaining popularity and becoming famous worldwide.   I would ask him to tell me stories about times he shared with his fellow Rat Pack members like Dean Martin, Frank Bishop and Sammy Davis Jr.  I loved  the chemistry they all had in the movies they made together. Plus, Frank Sinatra is the second best thing to come from the state of New Jersey, with myself being the best, of course.