Teacher Feature April

 Meet Mr. Meckler, our passionate, creative, and energetic Tech Foundations teacher at JCMS!

Mr. Meckler has been part of the JCMS family for the past three yearsβ€”two of those in Social Studies, and now in his new role teaching Tech Foundations and Yearbook. He’s thriving in this position, where he blends real-world skills with creativity through CTE (Career & Technical Education).

One of his students’ favorite projects? A β€œreal life” budgeting simulation where they choose a city to live in, find housing and transportation, research careers and salaries, write checks, and build a budget. Many students walk away shocked by the true cost of livingβ€”and inspired by the planning it takes to succeed!

Mr. Meckler is currently working on his Master’s in Education from the University of Arizona. His journey into teaching wasn’t traditionalβ€”he originally studied law enforcement, explored different paths, and eventually worked for the Department of Child Safety. There, he witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact a dedicated teacher can have. That realization led him to the classroom, beginning as a long-term sub in North Dakota before moving to Sierra Vista to be near his wife’s family.

A lifelong martial artist, Mr. Meckler started training at just four years old, and shared that passion by coaching wrestling at JCMS (but now his son takes up most of his extra time with wrestling). He’s also our Tier One PBIS Lead, known for designing fun, school-wide events like Rock-Paper-Scissors and Tic-Tac-Toe tournaments and Simon Says challenges that bring students together and build community. His creative spirit shines through every activityβ€”whether it’s planning a championship, lesson plan or producing videos that highlight the fun.

In the classroom, Mr. Meckler believes in mutual respect and uses a social contract with his students to foster a safe, engaging, and productive environment. He connects with students over shared interestsβ€”like video gamesβ€”and dreams of expanding CTE offerings to provide even more opportunities for them to explore their passions.

Outside of school, Mr. Meckler is a proud father to a one-year-old son, husband to a Sierra Vista native, and dog-dad to their pup, Kable. He enjoys family hikes, gaming, and working out in his home gym (which he can’t wait to share with his son one day).

Mr. Meckler brings motivation, innovation, and heart to JCMS every single day. We’re lucky to have him inspiring our students and helping them grow both in and out of the classroom.

Thank you, Mr. Meckler, for all that you do! πŸ’™πŸ’»πŸ†