Cheeseburgers, Butter Crunch Cookies, and Hawaiian Punch: Mr. Gurney

As a former New Rochelle High School student, baseball player, and Huguenot Herald writer, Mr. Gurney’s heart has always belonged to the classroom. Outside of the economics context, his incentives are passion-driven and are not only found in a bedside economics novel, but also in coaching baseball and spending time with family (including his students). 

Mr. Gurney has been an Economics teacher at New Rochelle High School for over twenty years. After thinking about how he would be described through another pair of eyes, Mr. Gurney answered, “I think I would be described as intense, passionate, but also humurous.”

Taking a stroll down memory lane, Gurney recalled his original dream to become a sports journalist but found his heart painted home in studying social studies and economics. He projects the aura of a guiding light as he illustrates the history of his teaching.

When asked about his proudest accomplishments, Mr. Gurney said, “...the relationships that I foster with my students and those that I’m still in touch with. I’ve had kids come back and visit me to tell me how much this course left a mark on them and it’s so often the kid you didn’t even know you had an impact on.” Besides writing four baseball books, Mr. Gurney values the connections he forms with students. 

In those connections, Mr. Gurney has had the opportunity to embrace some embarrassing moments with his students, whether it was losing a push-up contest by about 50 push-ups or losing the economics “wants vs. needs” rap battle with NRHS teacher, Mr. Monteleone. 

Mr. Gurney is a strong believer that NRHS sets anyone up for success. He also recognizes the importance of the diverse student body: “...my parents moved to New Rochelle because they wanted to expose me and my brother to diversity.”

Mr. Gurney shared his admiration of his notable baseball coaches, teachers, and classmates who he honors every day for the ways they have shaped him as a person. He also expressed his sentiments for a close friend of his who passed, William Lee McCovey, who played Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants and also played a starring role in Mr. Gurney’s life: “He was one of my heroes. When I would sit next to him at a baseball game, it was like sitting next to a grandfather. I never knew any of my grandfathers.”

Not only are the fruits of New Rochelle High School found in Gurney’s old favorite cafeteria lunch (cheeseburgers, butter crunch cookies, and Hawaiian Punch), but they are, in essence,  found in the communities Gurney continues to fabricate.