THE WISTERIAN

Everyone remembers that one special teacher that truly inspired them to learn A teacher’s love for their respective subject encourages their students to enter each class eager to learn For some students at La Salle College High School, this teacher is undoubtedly Principal James Fyke

Principal Fyke did not always aspire to teach, though Originally, he wanted to be a physical therapist He attended Arcadia University to pursue this field of study However, he discovered that physical therapy was not what he wanted to continue studying

Because of this, he had to find a new path

During his junior year, he took elective classes such as ecology and human evolution, which piqued his interest “I wanted to be out in the woods studying animals,” said Principal Fyke

However, an issue arose that altered his plans, and he had to think of a new field to study Principal Fyke remarked, “I started researching ecology jobs and there weren ’ t any at all The only job that you could really get as an ecologist was as a professor Ecology professors don’t regularly go out in the field to do hands-on work; they have their grad students do it, which meant that if I became an ecology professor to do the work I thought was interesting, I wouldn’t be going out in the field and doing the studies ”

Principal Fyke abandoned the idea of being an ecologist and decided to change his major to environmental studies Arcadia had just started a new environmental studies program, so he chose to pursue a master ' s degree in it Luckily, this field of study allowed him to continue to work with science and be more hands-on Although Principal Fyke had never considered teaching before, he had tutored in NHS in high school and enjoyed it, so he figured he could combine his enjoyment of teaching with his passion for science and turn it into his eventual career

Principal Fyke has been a part of the La Salle community for 25 years as a teacher, Dean of Student Life, and Principal He has a stern-yet-calming voice, is very well-composed, and advocates for people to conduct themselves similarly He always holds eye contact and strives to make everyone in a conversation feel involved Principal Fyke believes that “ultimately, being Lasallian means teaching minds and touching hearts ” He also notes that being Lasallian is much broader than that “It comes down to how you treat and care for other people ”

Principal Fyke taught this way Although his integrated science class was fast-paced, he

As the class of 2023 prepares to graduate and embark on a new chapter in their lives and academic careers, teacher and coach Anthony “Tony” Resch reflects on a very particular milestone: he s been here since they were born

Tony Resch joined the Lasallian brotherhood in 2001, after discovering his love for educating at his alma mater, William Penn Charter High School Resch had never planned to be a teacher; he majored in Political Science and Government at Yale University and dedicated the bulk of his younger years to professional lacrosse coaching

“For me, what’s most motivating is the relationships and the opportunity to really get to know people and for them to get to know me, ” Resch said without an inkling of doubt “I’ve been in education for 30 years now obviously I’m older now than I was but I still get that same excitement when the season comes up ”

Resch’s age hasn’t deterred him from coaching, though Despite getting a start when technology was nowhere near where it is now, Resch has evolved with the times He’s the type to go with the flow; he’ll utilize any tool in his belt that he can, technology being one of the many

“It’s important to be aware of just the all the different parts of what can make a young person best able to accomplish goals, and technology has helped inform this,” Resch said “I try to provide whatever creative environment that will do that, along with other coaches I work with ” But outside of technology, the world has drastically changed culturally since Resch was a high school student-athlete or a young coach In the 80s and 90s, athletes were taught to ignore pain and focus on the work only Now, there’s the perception that recognizing that ache, or that discomfort, is an integral part of getting better

“I grew up when whatever injuries we had, just rub some dirt on it and get back out there,” Resch reflected “That may have been one extreme, but now, I think I’m much more aware and supportive My focus is providing every athlete with what he needs as an individual for success ” Resch is a renowned high school coach who is admired for his determination and compassion for students but that’s the most modest of his accomplishments The reality is that Resch isn’t only renowned by the students and staff of La Salle, he’s renowned throughout the country for his professional lacrosse coaching

From 1994 to 2001, Resch was the head coach of the Philadelphia Wings and led the team to four Championships He was named to the NLL Hall of Fame in 2008 and has been inducted to three other major halls of fame, one of which is the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame; his induction was merely two months ago At Yale University, he was a two-time All American lacrosse player and three-time All-Ivy League athlete His habit for success has been greatly enjoyed by his children, as well

“Looking back on all that, it doesn’t feel real like, you mean to tell me it’s been over 20 years since I coached the Wings? Resch joked “I m not finished yet, but I m content with knowing that if I were, I’d still be so deeply satisfied and grateful with my career ”

Now, Resch is preparing for the high school lacrosse season to start, of course with great excitement -Ryan Lee '25 always made sure that his students understood the material This shows a level of caring that parents hope their students will experience during their four years at La Salle

“It comes down to the people and the example that the teachers and the Brothers set for you Not only does it help you learn better and get a better learning experience and more well-rounded education, but it also rubs off on you, ” said Principal Fyke He provided a Lasallian education and experience in every single class, which gave him a very reputable name in the community If ever you needed academic assistance, Principal Fyke would be there to offer a helping hand or some wise advice It is this reputation that helped him secure the position of Principal that he currently holds today

Despite his immense capabilities, he is always willing to collaborate with fellow administrators and faculty members to ensure that our school runs smoothly Principal Fyke said, “ as Principal, you rely on others to do the critical work more than you would think There are checks and balances in the administrative team so no one person can control everything ” For Principal Fyke, this means that instead of having a primary role in a few big things at school, he shares responsibilities with his administrative members in a multitude of areas

Even though he is no longer teaching, Principal Fyke still tries to touch the hearts of everyone in the La Salle community by making sure La Salle is the best learning environment it can be He explained, “I don’t miss being in the classroom that much because I still get the student interactions I like being Principal because I see the big picture of what the school is doing, where the school is heading, and what’s happening as far as teaching and learning goes ” Now, instead of focusing solely on science, Principal Fyke focuses on ways to help the school inspire its students to be curious about all subjects

Principal Fyke’s career may have taken a different path than he initially anticipated, but he is exactly where he wants to be – teaching minds and touching hearts

-Kevin McCann '23