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Mark Werpney, a social studies teacher, is starting his first year at Langley teaching AP Psychology and World History II Honors to students of grades 10 through 12. Werpney was born in Dearborn, Michigan. At the age of two, his father got a job in Texas and the family relocated there. He grew up outside of Waco, Texas, where he attended high
school, participating in speech and debate, as well as the school newspaper. This prompted him
to study political science at Angelo State University, a small college in the middle of West Texas.
“Pretty much most of my adult life, I've been in the Dallas Fort Worth area. So now I'm
here at Langley,” Werpney said. Werpney originally wanted to pursue teaching, but was discouraged from it by one of his college professors. Post-graduation, he worked as a news reporter in West Texas. During this time, he went to many career events at schools and presented to students about journalism. “After one of these events, I had the teacher come up to me and tell me that they enjoyed me being in their classroom and I just blurted out to the teacher that I'd rather be doing what they do,” Werpney said. “And I kind of realized that day I blurted that out, that maybe it was time for me to make that transition.”
After three years of being a journalist, Werpney received his teaching certification from
the University of Texas at Arlington and started teaching in 2005. What he believes is the most important part of his career is the impact that he leaves on his students. “What I do as a teacher, what we do as teachers, matters. And I want to just wake up every day and feel like I'm going to make a difference and just be a force of positivity in the lives of
my students,” Werpney said. Later on, Werpney decided to take his career to the next step and move to the place that he had always envisioned living in. His first ever flight was to Washington DC at 14 and he has come back to visit multiple times. As a social studies teacher, he admires its cultural and historical importance. “This is an area that values education, that has a highly educated population, that has a rich cultural history,” Werpney said. Furthermore, Werpney is looking forward to being part of the Langley community. He
decided to come to this school because of its opportunities and excellence. Werpney was
impressed not only by Langley’s campus and programs, but also by the people.
“I think being at a place like Langley, I have a chance to… work with the best students,
the best teachers.” Werpney said.
In the future, he hopes to create a positive environment for his students and teach them
how to be lifelong learners and get to know them on a personal level.
“What I'm looking forward to this school year is just getting to know my students, getting
to learn more about the community,” Werpney said.
~ By Isabella Hutter, Saxon Scope reporter
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