Since 2002, when Mr. John Lincke began teaching, Room 409 at Haven has been home to the smell of chemicals, the sight of students dissecting pigs, frogs, and earthworms, the vigor of Friday brain teasers, and the sweet taste of Dum-Dums.
Over 20 years later, Lincke is retiring from teaching biology and anatomy and physiology in Room 409. Lincke has been teaching at Haven for 23 years. Before Haven, he taught at Cardinal O’Hara High School, Archbishop Prendergast High School, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
“My wife was a graduate, she and most of her brothers and sisters are graduates of Strath Haven or Nether Providence High School, and she encouraged me to try,” Lincke said. “So I applied and I got the job.”
Throughout his time teaching at Haven, Lincke had the chance to see his two children—Kai ’22 and Claire ’25— grow up, learn, and be supported in their endeavors at the high school. As a parent, he got to see a unique perspective on his teaching colleagues.
“I’d always hear stories about what this person had done for my daughter, and so it was just so supportive, and I thought, ‘Man, I didn’t know that,’” Lincke said. “I didn’t realize that person had that town or this, and they would just tell me stories about how good these people are and and I always knew that I work with a lot of great people, but I think being on the side of a parent, I got the inside story, and I found out that ‘Boy, there’s a lot of talent here.’”
Even after a career in teaching, Lincke describes how he was lucky to learn about and from his students.
“I think it would be a boring day if I went home and I didn’t learn something from a student, just by observing or hearing, or just in conversation with a student, whether they’re telling me about their experiences or about their travels, or about the things that they do that I’ve never done,” Lincke said. “I was lucky to get an education from my coworkers and from my students, so I’m grateful for that, and I will miss that.”
Senior Jacob Jurkech, who took Lincke’s anatomy class, is grateful Lincke taught him the balance of being independent and asking for help during class.
“In a lot of the work we did, it was much more like figuring things out and coming up with what to do next almost by yourself,” Jurkech said. “He would guide you if you needed it, but a lot of it was just letting you [explore], ‘What do you think is right to do?’ He taught self-initiative and the way to work through problems without being always told what to do, but also with enough support if you are lost. It was really helpful.”
Senior Cecily Heisey-Terrell shares admiration for the way Lincke motivated and taught his students. Heisey-Terrell also took his anatomy course.
“I think I’m going to miss all of his dumb little jokes about everything, and definitely the lollipops on test prep days, that always got me through because they’d keep me occupied enough that I could focus,” Heisey-Terrell said. “You have to be distracted just a little bit to be able to hone in, and I feel like Mr. Lincke kind of got that.”
Beyond current students, Lincke taught former principal Dr. Greg Hilden when he was a student at Cardinal O’Hara. He reflects on how he has been able to see and work with former students in the adult world.
“I’ve come across doctors and nurses that I’ve taught, and they were giving me care at different times, so that was interesting. It’s very rewarding to see that. I wish that everybody could get a chance to,” he said.
Lincke will still remain in the community. He is looking forward to traveling more and staying active at the gym and at home. As for the next science teacher to take his vacancy, Lincke has some advice.
“To the new teacher, I’d say, ‘You’re lucky. You’re lucky to be here, and you’re lucky to be surrounded by good people, and you have a lot to learn from your students. They’ll learn from you, but you have a lot to learn from them. Time flies,’” he said.
