Our very own Cambridge Engineering sponsor, Paul Kynerd, is retiring this school year. Mr. Kynerd has been a teacher of engineering for nineteen years. Mr. Kynerd worked with the students to teach them how to plan and carry out tests, recognize and address issues, comprehend professional and moral responsibility, and effectively communicate. Then, while learning techniques for recording the design process, collaborating with others, and presenting the results, students build problem-solving, research, and design abilities.
Mr. Kynerd stated, “I value the hands-on experience of observing students develop projects that deal with modeling, prototyping, and aerodynamics.” Mr. Kynerd is a teacher who develops relationships with his students both within and outside the classroom. Students can apply the engineering knowledge they have acquired to tackle problems in the real world.
Sergio Paez, a former senior, claimed that in addition to learning how to perform various tasks, he also developed a strong work ethic. Sergio added, “Mr. Kynerd pushes us a little harder because he can see the potential in you that you don’t recognize yourself. At times, it may be overbearing.”
Kynerd is a crucial component of the engineering sector, including the functionality of specific equipment and the manner in which information is conveyed to all students. Mr. Kynerd holds students accountable by ensuring that they meet due dates and by assisting them in developing internal self-control.
Former senior Justin Corea commented that his capstone Formula 1 racing car was his most enjoyable assignment. He said, “Mr. Kynerd has helped me set up the vision of my car and helped me with the printing of the model, but he prefers to watch what you learn and how you display it during various tasks.”
Students took an engineering course that influenced and helped them choose their own career path. Mr. Kynerd was also able to assist the learners with another element of their lives—not knowing what they wanted to pursue in college or even after high school.
After graduating from high school, Kayla Chung, a former senior, commented, “I actually learned what I wanted to do; I’ve explored many aspects of fashion, but I felt there was something missing.” According to Kalya, who now majors in materials engineering, a neglected area of fashion, she learned more about fashion when she first started studying engineering. Kayla received an advisory from Mr. Kynerd that “the resources she used for programming cost too much on a bigger scale. Additionally, you need to keep in mind how doing the project manually would enable you to save money. I appreciate Mr. Kynerd who brought this to my attention,” said Kayla.
The colleagues he has worked with for many years while at MLEC value Mr. Kynerd just as much as the students do. “Mr. Kynerd’s retirement is well-deserved because he is among the best teachers I know. I wish him the best of luck as he moves forward in life,” said Mr. Vernon, the Information Technology Cisco teacher. While working with the students on a few projects, Mr. Vernon gained some engineering knowledge. According to Mr. Vernon, Mr. Kynerd is a teacher who genuinely cares about his students and is not hesitant to speak his mind or express his viewpoint.
One of the things about Mr. Kynerd that will endure is the knowledge his colleagues acquired from him as a teacher. According to Ms. Soto, the teacher of digital arts, “He was perceived as a mentor to me from day one, with regard to class management and how he mentored his students, he is a good role model to his students.” Ms. Soto also added that he is “bigger than the classroom” when he demands attention and respect from you while presenting his perplexing ideas.
Mr. Kynerd has a mindset of constant improvement for both himself and those around him. Due to the knowledge and experiences he helped his students and former coworkers acquire, Mr. Kynerd will be missed.
