Rock Away Mr. McConvey

Written by: Kaiha Jaaj, Hannah Prisco 

Photos by: Ms. Turnbull 

Edited by: TABoid editorial team 

Our new Vice Principal, Mr. McConvey, is a fascinating individual with an extensive professional background whose journey brought him here to T.A. Blakelock. 

Mr. McConvey has a degree in Musical Education from Western University, specializing in the saxophone. He later attended college to become a music teacher, with his other teachable subject being Computer Science. He has only ever worked within the Halton region. Mr. McConvey’s first teaching job, straight out of college, was at Iroquois Ridge High School, where he remained for fourteen years. He became the Department Head of Arts and Tech at Iroquois and then went on to work at the board office for three years as the program lead for the Arts. He became a Vice Principal, moving from Acton High School to Georgetown High School for three years each before ending up at Blakelock. 

When asked about a defining moment in his career, Mr. McConvey spoke to his experience working with the students in the Community Pathways Program at Georgetown High School. “It forced me to see education and people in a different way,” he says. “They aren’t so focussed on curriculum or assignments; they are actually teaching those kids a variety of things like employability skills.” Mr. McConvey gained perspective as he realized people “get so wrapped up in 4U English and 4U Chemistry and purely academic things.” However, Mr. McConvey believes that this is not all education is about, “It reminded me to see the people first.” 

While Mr. McConvey is more than content with his choice of profession, he did reveal to us that given the chance to live a different life for 24 hours, he would love to be a chef. “Someone like Jamie Oliver, not Gordan Ramsey, he's too mean.” Mr. McConvey loves food as an art form and appreciates that it is difficult work, being in a high-stakes environment with little reward. If he had the opportunity for a day, he would definitely take it. 

As for our senior class, Mr. McConvey has two pieces of advice for them as they head into their final year of high school. As someone who didn’t get into his first two choices of University and had a rather unenjoyable university experience staying at home, Mr. McConvey stresses the value of moving away from home and learning to live on your own. “If you have the opportunity to go away, go away. You will learn as much about yourself as you do in any classroom.”  His second piece of advice is simply to pursue what you love. He made it clear that he doesn't mean to say pursue frivolous things and ignore the practicality of your career choice, but doing something for a living that you truly dislike won’t work. Even if it’s not something you’re studying, “try to have things in your life that you love, whether that’s hobbies, your passion, or your academic pursuits. It’s really important.” 

Mr. McConvey brings plenty of wisdom, experience, and passion to his new position here at Blakelock and is an asset to our school community.