Licensed educator, geographer, and outdoor leader with over a decade of experience working with young people across classrooms, wilderness expeditions, residential schools, and community programs. I teach with curiosity, rigour, and a genuine belief in every student's potential.
I'm Michael-Alan MacHenry, a licensed educator with a Bachelor of Education from Mount Saint Vincent University and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Saint Mary's University. My professional background is genuinely unusual: it blends formal teaching, backcountry wilderness leadership, trades instruction, youth mentorship, and interdisciplinary curriculum design — all grounded in a deep commitment to experiential learning.
Over the past decade I've worked with young people across an extraordinary range of environments: secondary school classrooms, multi-day wilderness expeditions, residential school settings, climbing gyms, summer camps, and an online educational program I founded during the pandemic. Across every one of these settings, I've centred my practice around curiosity, resilience, and student agency.
I am certified to teach Geography, Earth Sciences, and Social Studies, and I'm working toward qualifications in Business and Outdoor Education. I also bring 10+ years of professional roofing and trades experience — a practical, real-world foundation I'm proud of and excited to bring into technology and trades education.
In September 2026 I begin a qualifying year for an M.A. in Philosophy at the University of Ottawa — a natural extension of the Socratic, dialogue-driven approach to teaching that has defined my classroom practice since day one.
"I don't just deliver content — I invite students into dialogue. The goal is to build young people who ask better questions, take intellectual risks, and leave my classroom more curious than when they arrived."
My teaching is consistently described as intellectually curious, emotionally attuned, and high-energy. I use a Socratic approach to class discussion — inviting students into genuine dialogue rather than passive reception. I care deeply about building community, both inside and outside the classroom, and I thrive in environments that demand both academic rigour and human connection.
I write about education, experiential learning, philosophy, and what it means to teach well. More essays available on my Substack — links coming soon.
A combination of formal academic credentials, safety certifications, and real-world qualifications built across land, water, and high-altitude environments.
Bachelor of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University. Licensed to teach in Ontario with qualifications in Geography, Earth Sciences, and Social Studies.
Current certification in First Aid and CPR-C. Wilderness First Responder certification currently being renewed.
Certified Working at Heights — built through 10+ years of professional roofing and trades experience across Ontario.
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System certification — essential for safe instruction in science labs, woodshop, and trades environments.
Transport Canada certified Pleasure Craft Operator — supporting safe water-based outdoor education and expedition work.
Years of experience managing climbing programs and teaching advanced techniques to youth and adults at Coyote Rock Gym, Ottawa.
Connecting with community is central to who I am as a person and an educator. A selection of volunteer and community roles over the years.