Social studies teacher Sharon McMahon has never ceased to inspire me.

My inspiration for the past three years as coach of the mock trial team, Ms. McMahon has guided me through good times and bad, through thick and thin. She was right there beside the mock trial team through every moment of our season, and inspired us to continue devoting ourselves to our case even when no one else thought we would make it.

She had the chutzpah to charm us through grueling eight-hour practices, and in the end made us enjoy every moment of it. Like the U.S. Postal Service, neither rain nor snow nor three-day weekends will stop Ms. McMahon. That is, at least the first two do not stop the U.S. postal service.

What, you ask, could make one person stand so high above the crowd? – No pun intended, of course. Let’s start with her vocabulary. Never since Shakespeare has the English language bestowed such a gift for words on one human being. Ms. McMahon’s vocabulary within a single sentence can span anywhere from “pursuant” to “rollin’ on dubs.” Amazingly, she can recite to you the definition of both.

Her incredible ability to remain cool under fire also amazes me. Just for the sake of comparison, look at other mock trial coaches around the county. At trials against Jewish Day School, it is not hard to notice how little sense their coach has left. Their iron lady, in fact, threatened to kick a parent off the team for talking during a trial recess. How she planned to do so is beyond me.

Apparently, the stress of being a mock trial coach has not made it all the way into Ms. McMahon’s head, yet. Her annoyance at Jewish Day School’s coach was let off with a mere eye roll. During every other trial, her absolute coolness prevailed as she merely sat contently in the back of the courtroom.

So, in the name of Blake High School, I propose a toast to Sharon McMahon. Our school has yet to see such an amazing teacher.