Columbia Elementary School is excited to welcome a new face to the middle school team. With a passion for sports, coaching, and student growth, our new teacher brings a heartfelt commitment to shaping young minds not just in the classroom, but for life.
“My wife and I had always talked about raising our family in a small-town community,” Nicholas McManus shared. “She grew up in Sonora and attended Columbia Elementary. I’ve heard so many stories about how much fun she had, the life lessons she learned, and the great people she met. That inspired our move from Southern California, and it excites me to now be part of the same community that shaped her.”
Though he once envisioned a future as a professional baseball player, coaching eventually opened his eyes to a deeper calling. “I loved coaching youth baseball and teaching them not just the game, but the life lessons that come with it,” he said. “That passion naturally transitioned into the classroom.”
With experience teaching a wide range of grade levels up to high school, he describes his teaching philosophy much like coaching: “Every player is not the same—they're all unique in their own way. The same goes for students. My job is to help each one find how they learn best and support them on that journey.”
That journey, he believes, is at the heart of meaningful learning. “School isn’t just about the grades, it’s about self-discovery. It’s about students learning about themselves, their strengths, and what helps them succeed. If we focus on that, the grades will follow.”
Mr. McManus hopes to change how students perceive math and ultimately have a better understanding in how it can be best applied in their lives.
His prior experience with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) aligns with this mission. “PLTW helps take classroom content and make it real. It gives students the chance to see the relevance of what they’re learning by applying it to real-world situations,” he explained. “They’re more invested, more curious, and more motivated when they know what they’re learning has purpose.”
Although his transition to Columbia has been a whirlwind, it has also been filled with kindness and support. “I’m used to much bigger living, where you can camouflage into the crowd,” he noted. “It is nice to see the staff and community ask you about what you need. From buying a house, joining a new community, and starting a new job everyone has helped me along the way. Just make it easier knowing that this was the best decision for our family."
Fast Facts
Favorite Book in Elementary School: Holes
Favorite Book as an Adult: Along Came A Spider
Favorite Movie in Elementary School: "The Sandlot"
Favorite Movie as an Adult: "Gladiator" (“I would watch this before every college baseball game.”)
Favorite Game to Play at Recess: Kickball
Favorite School Lunch: "Pizza or Chicken Sandwich but the cookies were the best thing. They were so good that my mom would give me money to take some home for her."