For this edition of our Teacher Feature, we talk to the jack of all trades when it comes to teaching and coaching, Mr. Allan Tinkey.
Q: What is your favorite student slang and can you use it in a sentence?
A: Oh my! There are so many! I was in my Rizz era the first semester, now I have been using Op, lately. Last year, one of my students asked me if I was a Discord Kitten, not sure what that is, but I’m definitely not.
Q: What would be your last meal?
A: I’m not sure, but I would definitely have to have Doritos (in the red bag) and a piece of Kringle from Trader Joe’s.
Q: What is your most irresponsible purchase?
A: Probably something on Poshmark or Mac.Bid. I buy things on Mac.bid that don’t need, but the thrill of winning an auction and paying a dollar for 20 pairs of socks is exhilarating.
Q: What is your favorite place you’ve visited?
A: I would say the National Parks out west, we did a trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park a few summers ago. Seeing the mountains, and wildlife was a great experience.
Q: What is the best concert you’ve been to?
A: That’s a hard one to answer, I’ve been to a lot of really cool shows. Pearl Jam in 2003 might be my favorite. It was at the old Civic Arena or Mellon Arena. It was the night before my graduation from Pitt, I didn’t make it to graduation. Great Time!
Q: Free night to yourself, what are you doing?
A: I’ll be on the couch with my dogs, watching something on Netflix, probably a sports documentary.
Q:What is your favorite topic to teach?
A: I’ve really enjoyed co-teaching Algebra 1 the past few years. I’ve co-taught with Ms. Rihn and Ms. Siedlecki, so it’s been fun to see their styles, and interacting with the freshman class. When I first started teaching I taught English 12. There were some characters in those classes, but we had fun reading about dystopian societies, and connecting it to our world.
Q: What was your first car?
A: A 1985 Blue Ford Ranger. Danger Ranger would not stay in park, and the wheels would have to be locked so it would not roll away when parked. Also the gas gauge didn’t work, so I would have to use the trip meter to calculate how much gas was left in the tank. I ran out once, and had to walk home, and get a ride back to the truck from my dad.
Q: What is your fattest moment?
A: According to Coach D’Ags, I’m always chubby, but in high school we would travel all over for all-you-can-eat wings. We would go to Johnstown, Latrobe, even to Cumberland, Maryland. The place in Maryland would make you eat a slice of pizza in between orders of wings. I once ate 6 slices of pizza and 33 wings in a sitting.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
A: Slow down! Everything gets done when it needs to be done.
Q: What odd or exotic pet would you like to have?
A: A Capuchin Monkey like the one from the Hangover movies.
Q: If you could meet someone dead or alive for 30 mins who would it be and what would you want to talk about?
A: I would like to meet my 9x Great Grandfather who moved here in the 1740’s from Germany and ask him why he came to America. I would probably need to learn German first, or at least have subtitles.
