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Former student becomes teacher at old school
YOUNGSTOWN
A former Youngstown City Schools student has swapped roles: once a student, now a teacher.
Jim Pluchinsky attended Paul C. Bunn Elementary in his first few years of school. Now, Pluchinsky teaches math and science there.
“When I saw the [teaching] opportunity, I was really excited,” he said. “The first thing I actually did was I told my mom, and we went through and dug up all of my old school pictures. There were just so many fond memories ... and through the entire interview process, everyone told me, ‘What was meant to be will be,’ and I didn’t trust it at first, but it really worked out.”
Bunn Principal William Baun said it was clear when Pluchinsky was interviewing for a teaching position, that Pluchinsky was meant to teach at Bunn.
“We interviewed [Pluchinsky] this summer for an opening for eighth-grade math and science,” Baun explained. “He had a strong resume and interviewed really well, but when he pulls out this picture of him while he was here [in elementary school], we said, ‘He belongs here.’”
Pluchinsky’s path wasn’t direct to Bunn, however.
He is a two-time Youngstown State University graduate with his first degree in marketing and economics.
Pluchinsky worked for Kellogg and coached football for Poland schools. His coaching position helped him realize his passion to teach.
Coaching “opened up doors for me in my education and for me to teach education,” Pluchinsky said. “I just love seeing kids finally get it – get to that point where they understand and it clicks for them. ... I like being able to find what works for each student or each athlete.”
All in all, Pluchinsky said he gets the most satisfaction out of giving back to the community that helped make him.
“It’s such a tight-knit group here with this family atmosphere,” he said. “Everybody here is more than willing to help you, and it’s just really special for me to be able to come back here.”