If you ask Abby Maichin what she thinks about Huntington High School math teacher David Moriarty the junior doesn’t hold anything back. The teenager believes he’s one of the best.
The veteran faculty member was Ms. Maichin’s teacher for an Honors Algebra 2 class last year. Mr. Moriarty’s current schedule includes Honors Pre-Calculus AB, Regents Common Core Geometry and a Geometry Concepts support section.
Huntington junior Abby Maichin.
“He taught me so much when I had him last year,” Ms. Maichin said. “Not only about math, but also about how to face adversity and overcome obstacles that appear unbeatable.”
Ms. Maichin verbally committed to play lacrosse at Notre Dame when she was only a freshman. Yes, she’s that good. But, she is also a wonderful student academically.
Asked to pick out a special Huntington faculty member and explain what makes him so, the Blue Devil basketball and lax star was quickly able to articulate her thoughts in a way anyone can understand.
“He will do everything and anything to make you successful in his class,” Ms. Maichin said. “He hits all of the necessary details to make you understand and if you don’t, he will go in extra early or stay super late just to make sure you feel confident about what you have learned. He cares so much about each individual student.”
Is Mr. Moriarty popular among the rest of the high school’s student body? “Everyone loves him,” Ms. Maichin said.
Longtime co-faculty advisor to Huntington’s Class of 2019, this year Mr. Moriarty took on additional responsibilities as co-advisor of the school-wide student government.
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Dave the past four years as the co-advisors of the class of 2019,” said science teacher Danielle Raguzin. “He is not only a great teacher, mentor for students and colleague, but he’s become a great friend. He is one of the first ones in the building each morning, always making himself available for extra help or prepping with colleagues. He puts 100 percent heart into everything and I think it’s as obvious to students as it is to me. He’s truly an asset to our Blue Devil community.”
Mr. Moriarty grew up outside of Boston in Newton, Massachusetts. He graduated from Newton High School in 2002 and went to earn an undergraduate degree at Union College in Schenectady in 2006, majoring in math and minoring in anthropology. He quickly landed his first teaching job at Chelmsford High School outside of Lowell. He taught math and coached track and field there. At night, he attended Cambridge College, where he obtained his master’s degree.
In the summer of 2012, Mr. Moriarty married his girlfriend, who he met in college and who is from Smithtown. The couple moved to Long Island and he began teaching at Huntington High School in September 2012. He has taught Algebra, Algebra 2, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Pre-Calculus, and Honors Pre-Calculus AB since joining the faculty.
Mr. Moriarty has volunteered as a track and field team coach. He lives with his wife and two children in East Northport. In his free time, be enjoys music and going to concerts, going to beach and paddleboarding and spending time with his family. “Huntington is a great place for all those activities,” he said.