Yes, that’s right. One of our new teachers at GHS is a Jennings – and you may know his brother very well. 

Brett Jennings is the new computer science teacher here at Griffith, teaching Digital Citizenship and Intro to Computer Science at the middle school, and Principles of Computing at the high school. Previously, he taught for two years at Highland High School and twenty years in the Whiting district. At the upper levels, he taught PLTW classes as well. 

He graduated from Whiting High School in 1998 and recieved a degree in elementary education from Aurora University, then taught fifth grade at Nathan Hale Elementary in Whiting for ten years. Soon after, he graduated from Walden University around 2009 with a master’s degree in integrated technology and education.  

Growing up, Jennings was exposed to computers as well as sports. He recalls building his first computer when he was just around seven, and tinkering with old computers which his parents brought home. That’s when he gained an interest in computers. 

When not in the classroom, Jennings devotes most of his time to his wife and two kids. As his kids grow up, he wants to be as present in their lives as possible. In the past, he spent 22 years coaching high school football, though he isn’t coaching this year. 

His message to live by was brought on by a late former coaching colleague of his at Whiting: “’Do work.’ It means that you’re going to work hard and try your best every single day, because you just never know when your last day is. Celebrate your accomplishments, and don’t take each day for granted.”