Mr. O’Brien plays a big role in Milton

Mr. David O’Brien, an ESL (English as a Second Language) aide, started his career at Milton 23 years ago as a substitute teacher.

According to Mr. O’Brien, he didn’t start working full-time until about eight years ago when there was an influx of Russian families in the district. There are still some Russian students, but they do not need the help of a translator, he added.

“I’ve adapted by being helpful in math and science, even though my area of expertise was and still is history, particularly Eastern European and Russian history,” said Mr. O’Brien.

Mr. O’Brien explained that as an aide, he helps ESL students by explaining lessons and instruction. He added he helps with almost any subject, including math, physics, history, English and chemistry.

Mr. O’Brien said he works with ESL Teacher Ms. Deborah Warren in order to balance the needs of each student who needs help.

“Ms. Warren and I both try and balance out who I go to, and it can change each semester. I think this semester I’ve changed my schedule about seven times,” added Mr. O’Brien.

According to Mr. O’Brien, when school was online due to the pandemic, he would call ESL students individually on Microsoft Teams to go over problems or assignments to help students in any way he could. “I also helped other students, especially in math, who needed assistance,” he added.

The hardest situation he’s ever had to face with an ESL student was when he had to translate auto shop terms for students who spoke Russian, added Mr. O’Brien.

“None of my readings, none of my dictionaries ever involved words like ‘muffler’ ‘crankshaft’ or ‘oil pan’,” he said.

Mr. O’Brien added some ESL students also struggle with stereotypes. He said the boys often try to be ‘macho’ or aggressive, and he has to tell them to calm down.

Mr. O’Brien said he has a master’s degree in History from Bloomsburg University as well as one in Pittsburgh from Duquesne University in Museology. He’s also earned doctoral credits from The University of Virginia in History. He added that he completed all of his coursework from 1973-81.

Mr. O’Brien said he was heavily involved in theatre and acting when he was younger.

When he came back from Duquesne University in 1981, he worked at the Ecno Lodge in Bloomsburg. He said a friend of his in the summer of 1983 asked him to audition for the British ambassador role from the play The King and I at the Haas Auditorium at Bloomsburg University. He said the director thought he was perfect for the role. Mr. O’Brien added since then, he has been involved in 61 plays and musicals.

Mr. O’Brien said he became fluent in Russian through private lessons.

Mr. O’Brien grew up was born and grew up in Massachusetts. “My mom spoke Slovak, and when my grandmother would come down they spoke Slovak to each other,” he said. “It used to drive me nuts because I didn’t know what they were talking about,” he added.

Mr. O’Brien said he decided to learn Russian because he couldn’t find a way to learn Slovak.

Junior Miranda Garcia-Calixto said Mr. O’Brien has helped get her schoolwork done.

“He is really helpful and intelligent. He is skilled in algebra, theatre, calculus and especially history,” she added.

Mr. O’Brien said the most important thing an aide can do to support their students is to always have their back, and encourage students not only academically, but to also get involved in the community as well. He added that he plans to continue to work at Milton for the foreseeable future.

“Don’t be afraid of trying the harder courses, expanding your knowledge, and taking a chance will always pay off,” said Mr. O’Brien, adding that reading as much as possible draws continuous learning, sparks curiosity and can “lead to discoveries hardly imaginable.”