New science teacher Mary McKenna is teaching both Conceptual Physics and Conceptual Chemistry at Menlo. McKenna is also a co-advocate with college counselor Natalie Ford. “So far everyone’s been so supportive, asking questions and giving it their all,” McKenna said. 

McKenna grew up in a town near the east bay called Antioch. As a high school student, she enjoyed taking psychology and English but did not love her science classes. “During high school, my science classes were hands off,” McKenna said in a Zoom interview with The Coat of Arms. “When I got to college, I realized there were so many other ways to teach science in a much more tangible and interactive way. I wanted to bring this fun, accessible chemistry content back to high school.”

As a college student, McKenna originally wanted to major in psychology. But after taking a nutrition class, she decided that she wanted to become a clinical dietitian. “One of my classes taught me about how some communities don’t have enough good and nutritious food,” McKenna said. “I wanted to take that knowledge and teach in places that are considered a food desert. I wanted to incorporate my passion for food science into teaching.” McKenna received her bachelor’s degree at UC Davis in clinical nutrition, her teaching credentials at Loyola Marymount University and her master’s degree in Education, Secondary Science at John Hopkins University.

Prior to teaching at Menlo, McKenna taught at two charter schools in Richmond, Calif. Throughout her time teaching there, McKenna lived in Berkeley. “I loved all the shops and restaurants Berkeley had, so I wanted to be [within] walking distance of those,” McKenna said.

Outside of school, McKenna enjoys cycling and scuba diving. She has traveled to tropical places around the world such as Belize, Costa Rica and Hawaii, but she also enjoys scuba diving down south in Monterey, Calif. In June 2020, McKenna was married in a ceremony broadcasted over Zoom.