For Mr. LaBella, teaching English is not just a profession; it’s a passion. It is a chance to excite students even on the days that seem to last an eternity. “I recognize that young people don’t always get excited to read books and talk about them,” said Mr. Labella, “But I know they like to engage with each other; they’re innately enthused by the world.”
Every day, Mr. LaBella strives to pique the interest of his students. Finn Gorsline ‘27 vividly recalled one of the moments where the classroom melted into an environment for discovery: “When we were talking about “The Great Gatsby,” there was a passage that mentioned the word ‘threadbare,’ and when we weren’t quite sure what it meant, he jumped up on his chair and showed his hand-knitted socks, explaining that if they were thin and had holes, that they’d be threadbare.”
Mr. Labella was born in Hamilton, N.J. He was first introduced to Peddie as a middle schooler, when his mother suggested he apply to the school. Though mystified at first, a young Mr. LaBella filled out the application form and began his journey at Peddie in 1999. At first, his interests were mostly STEM-focused; he took AP Calculus and AP Chemistry. In fact, his English grade didn’t qualify him to take AP English. However, Mr. LaBella quickly began to fall in love with the possibilities of literature. Some of his favorite teachers were English teachers such as Patrick Clements, who retired in 2017. Nonetheless, it was a senior Shakespeare elective that truly propelled him into the world of literature. “It got me really jazzed about what a word on a page can do,” recalled Mr. LaBella, “I learned here at Peddie that learning can be and should be fun. I learned that the way a student gets engaged is when they see their instructor in front of them or sitting at the table with them, inspired by the work.”
Inspired by his time at Peddie, Mr. LaBella graduated from Loyola College with a degree in English and further pursued a master’s degree in educational technology. Subsequently, Mr. LaBella taught at Loyola Blakefield, a preparatory school in Towson, Maryland. Besides teaching, Mr. LaBella coached soccer, sponsored many student clubs and founded the school’s Anti-Racist Group.
After many fruitful years teaching in Maryland, Mr. LaBella decided to return to his roots in Hightstown. Mr. LaBella described his return as “a really gratifying and beautiful experience coming back to this place in a professional context.” To that end, Mr. LaBella’s arrival is really a homecoming, a full circle moment.
He currently lives in Austen-Colgate as a dorm supervisor with his wife and two kids, Evelyn and Tilda. In his free time, Mr. LaBella enjoys hiking, biking, and especially knitting (evidenced by the socks he flashed in his English class). He also had an extensive vegetable garden at his old home and is figuring out a way to incorporate it into his new home at Peddie.
Being an English teacher, Mr. LaBella spends much of his time reading and writing – he’s published many articles in newspapers. He also finds interesting books to entertain his kids. Because of the busy nature of his work and family lives, Mr. LaBella relies on routine and a daily planner to keep him on track. He also tries to stay grounded in the world around him. “Put the phone down,” said Mr. LaBella. “Be more present in the world. I know our cellular devices are very powerful attractive enticing things, but I think they create a sort of distance between us and the things we care about.”
When asked about a final piece of advice for students, Mr. LaBella had a lot to share: “Listen to yourself. Trust yourself. We all have an engine that’s moving within us. We all have a source of inspiration. The larger world that we live in isn’t always respectful of that.” Having been a Peddie student and now a teacher, Mr. LaBella’s words are perfect for students striving to achieve their own highest quality of citizenship while savoring the four years that seem to speed by. “Just have fun: School is challenging. This place is not easy. I recognize that in all sorts of ways,” said Mr. LaBella. “But there’s something really fun about all that, and if we can find the joy in the work that we do, the places where we either choose to put our energy or are required to put our energy, I think everything flows much better.”