News Detail
Joe Mauro: History and Social Sciences Teacher, Middle School History and Geography Team Coach
Why teaching? I was born in New York, and was fortunate enough to be awarded an academic scholarship to Regis High School, a prestigious all-scholarship Jesuit school in Manhattan. My teachers there, particularly a legendary history teacher named Mr. Connelly, inspired me to want to become a teacher and change peoples’ lives.
Early Days I remember meeting legendary teachers like Mr. Bowden and Mr. Stokes and being somewhat intimidated by their length of service to the school. I never imagined I would be at RE as long as I have.
Memory lane Many of my fondest memories come from coaching. I really enjoyed watching Brian Griese ’93 and Russel Lilly ’91 pitching, Jon Geller ’91 playing basketball and Patty (Peck) Hooker ’95 playing softball. The relationships you get from coaching are very special. Now I get the same thing from coaching our geography and history teams. We’ve had extraordinary students like Rodrigo Cruz ’96, Jesse Weinberg ’09, Cole Press ’12, Dante Bolzan ’14, Lucas Miner ’20, Javi Kumar ’22, Daniel Figueroa ’24 and Parker Jelke ’27. Being present when Daniel and Parker won their national history championships was really special. Of course, every single class gives new memories and new special moments.
Trying times Right after Hurricane Andrew, all the teachers gathered together to help each other out. The camaraderie was amazing. We even helped repair some teachers’ houses. When we came back from the pandemic, all the teachers spent a lot of time with our advisees, including eating lunch with them. I like to think that constant interaction gave the students some stability and a sense that everything was going to be alright.
Fun fact It is amusing when I teach students whose parents I have taught. The last Middle School Back-to-School Night before the pandemic, one class had four or five parents who were former students of mine. That was both a very funny and poignant moment.
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.