Oratory Prep’s new staff member Mr. Tafel is a History teacher and hockey coach. He attended Rutgers New Brunswick and received a history major and an education minor. He went on to get his Masters Degree from Seton Hall in school counseling. Since he was a kid he always wanted to pursue a career in History. “My grandparents and mother fled the Soviet Union to have a better opportunity in the US. My grandfather would enjoy telling stories about Party actions, as well as day to day life, that are hard to believe which gave me the passion to always try to dig deeper to understand the why behind history’s actions. This curiosity spread to other theaters of history, and it is a pleasure to teach actively things you actively enjoy/want to continue as well as trying to convey that enthusiasm to students.” 

Mr. Tafel grew up in Livingston, New Jersey and took a year in between high school and college to play hockey in Massachusetts and Long Island. Years later he is the Varsity Hockey coach at Oratory Prep and plays in a men’s league when he gets a chance to. He wanted to become a hockey coach because he was interested in the development of his players in a positive manner. He uses this passion not only on the ice but in the classroom as well. In class, he teaches the material to have a strong effect on the lives of his students. 

Some information that Mr. Tafel would like you guys to know is that he is able to speak and understand Russian. Prior to OP, he worked at Morristown Beard and at Livingston high school’s alternative campus. Mr. Tafel is a strong addition to the staff at Oratory Prep as he provides leadership and he goes about everything with a positive, helpful manner.