The Morris School District attracts many alumni after graduation to not only call Morristown home again with their families, but to also pursue their careers. Morristown High School (MHS) alumni Allie Ferrara, Class of 2015, and Casey Flynn, Class of 2008, came back “home” to teach, coach, and carry on their family legacies as proud Colonials.  We caught up with them to hear about some of their memories as student-athletes and what inspired them to return to MHS and the District.

MEF: Tell us a little about your journey since high school.

AF:  After MHS, I continued my student-athlete career at the University of Louisville where I played lacrosse and worked towards becoming a teacher. During my junior year, I transferred to Rutgers University, where I completed my college lacrosse career and earned my Master’s in Education. Since graduating, I now have the honor of teaching 8^th-grade math in my former classroom (shout out to Mrs. Stetz-Bamert!) and coaching basketball and lacrosse at MHS. Full circle story!

CF: Following graduation from MHS in 2008, I went to Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL to play football. I was a 4-year varsity letter winner, was elected captain my senior year and received All-Conference honors. I graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s in History and a Minor in Educational Studies. After Lake Forest, I enrolled at Grand Canyon University to obtain my Master’s in Secondary Teaching. While there, I volunteered as an Assistant Football and Wrestling Coach. Upon receiving my master’s degree in 2015, I accepted a position to teach History and Psychology at Morris Catholic High School, where I served as a class advisor and Assistant Wrestling, Softball and Football coach for two years.

In 2017, I had the opportunity to come home to Morristown to teach Social Studies and have held many additional roles over the years. I’m currently the Freshman Experience Cohort Leader and PGC Advisor as well as Assistant Wrestling Coach and Head Football Coach. I was Head Coach for the Wrestling program for 5 years and served as an Assistant and Head Softball Coach. Having been an MHS Football coach football for six years, I’m excited to progress further into my second year as Head Coach.

MEF: What coach and what teacher had the most influence on you and why?

AF: So many teachers and coaches have touched my life, but a particular coaching duo of MHS alumni, Evan Mager and Taylor Albright, really inspired me as an athlete at MHS. Evan guided me through my transfer process and continues to check on me today, and Taylor was the 3-sport Varsity athlete at MHS that “young Allie” used to watch compete, admiring her competitive spirit and leadership. In the classroom, Megan Lucignani touched my heart in every possible way in 5^th grade at Thomas Jefferson School. We have sustained a friendship to this day and I now have the honor of teaching her son in 8^th grade at Frelinghuysen Middle School and I look forward to, hopefully, teaching her daughter, too. This particular relationship highlights one of the many joys of being a teacher and the far-reaching impact of a kind hearted and passionate teacher.

CF: There are so many coaches that have influenced me throughout the years. Particularly to Morristown, I’d have to say Coach Chris Hull for believing in my capabilities and challenging me to achieve more. With regard to teachers, there are two specific people that have had the greatest impact. Matt Carmel and Kevin Rooney are the reasons why I wanted to become a history teacher. The lessons and activities we completed in their classrooms got us hooked on loving history. I am honored to call them co-workers now, and I know that it makes them feel old, but I still go to them for a lot of advice on teaching, coaching, and life.

MEF: What does your family’s legacy mean to you?

AF: Family means everything to me and the family values that I cherish give a greater purpose to everything I pursue. The goal of every endeavor is to enjoy the ride and to become a better person throughout the journey. I have been fortunate enough to learn from incredible mentors in my immediate family.  My goal is to cultivate strong family ties and beliefs in the eyes of every student in my classroom and every athlete on the field and the court. Once you’re “one of mine,” you are a “for-lifer!”

CF: My family’s legacy means the world to me. I know that I have big shoes to fill taking over a program 64 years after my great-grandfather, which has meant a lot to my family and the community.  I wouldn’t be in the position that I am in without their support. This has been a lifelong dream, and I hope to continue to positively impact my family’s legacy for years to come.

MEF: How does it feel to be back at MHS as a teacher/coach?

AF: It really feels like a dream come true to serve as a teacher and a coach in the community that raised me. Morristown is an incredible place that equipped me with the skills and knowledge to be a productive citizen in today’s society. The cherry on top is that I now look at my former K-12 educators as colleagues and gain a new level of appreciation for our hardworking and dedicated MHS Staff. I also have the great pleasure of coaching basketball and lacrosse alongside other proud and decorated MHS alumni, Jimmy Pisciotto and Emily Goss. These strong ties to Morristown energize me with a heightened sense of pride in everything that I do, and it is quite a fulfilling experience.

CF: This is where I have always wanted to be since telling myself in middle school that I am going to be a teacher and coach. I feel honored to educate and inspire the youth in the same place that educated and inspired me.

MEF: Is anything different about the MHS of today than when you attended?

AF: The most visible change at MHS is the addition of the technology center and the new wing that was built to accommodate rising enrollments and provide real-world learning experiences. This excites me for the future stars that will come through Morristown and challenge societal norms, make discoveries, and seize new opportunities. The only constant in life is change. But, the one thing that has not waivered since graduating MHS is the harmonious diversity that unites our student body and continues to distinguish Morristown as the incredible place that it is.

CF: There are a lot of differences! The technology aspect is probably the biggest difference since I attended MHS. Back in my day everything was hand-written. Because of the ever-changing technological eras that we are going through, we have to adapt so our kids understand the technological society. The “new wing” with the learning commons and state-of-the-art woodshop, CAD, and STEM classrooms is unbelievable. Also, a turf field, and soon, lights and a new scoreboard.

MEF: What is timeless about being a Colonial?

AF: Morristown has a unique way of “letting you go,” but never truly saying goodbye and always finding a way to pull you back. Once a Colonial, always a Colonial. We have an incredible alumni network in our community with strong connections throughout the District and beyond. I would challenge every graduate to take great pride in representing Morristown and the distinctions that come with that accomplishment!

CF: The tradition. When you are from Morristown, you say it with great pride.  Saturday afternoons in the fall at Memorial Field, where the band is playing, the smell of a grill, and the football team playing, is a tradition that everyone can speak on. I hope to continue that tradition where the whole town comes to support us.

MEF: What was your greatest moment at MHS?   Was it when you were a student?  Or as a coach?

AF: All of my core memories at MHS stem from being involved in the many different sports, clubs, and offerings that are presented to students. I especially loved having the opportunity to mentor freshmen with some of my fellow peers through the PGC program that is organized by Claudine Priola and Matt Carmel. I also cherished the opportunity to compete at a high level in basketball and lacrosse. My Group 4 State Sectional Champions ring from 2015 as a lacrosse player is now sitting next to my ring from 2022 Group 4 Champions (first time ever) as a proud coach!

CF: My greatest moments were when I was a coach. While the Wrestling Head Coach, I was able to help a young sophomore, Giovanni (Gio) Rivera ’22, qualify for the state wrestling championships in Atlantic City. Gio became the standard for Morristown wrestlers, as he qualified two more times. We also had two more athletes join him in recent history; Juan David Argueta ’23, a three-time qualifier, and Jack Myers ‘24 a 3^rd place finish in the state in 2023.

In my first year as the head football coach, my greatest moment was watching the players snap an 18-game New Jersey losing streak in our first game of the season against Livingston in August of 2022. That game meant the world to the players, and it continued to show throughout the season. They set a foundation for future players that come through these halls, as they posted the best defensive performance in over a decade and the first playoff appearance in nine years.

MEF: Looking at your career, if you could tell your “high school” self one thing, what would it be?

AF: I would have challenged my high school self to perceive “failure” differently. I am a lifelong learner and failure, no matter how big or small, is part of life. The only time you truly fail is when you choose to stop learning from mistakes. Many teachers and coaches love their students and their athletes enough to let them fail and embrace the comeback. I embrace the opportunity to guide my students and my athletes through “failure” and support them in polishing a growth mindset and a resilient attitude.

CF: Every day is a new opportunity to set small goals in your pursuit of achieving long-term goals, and to create new memories.

MEF: If you had known then what you know now, would you have done anything differently in high school?  If so, what?

AF: Looking back, I think I could have done a better job of living in the moment and appreciating the little things. I naturally set high expectations and lofty goals for myself which always has my mind thinking about the next big thing. Coaching has really inspired me to live in the moment with my athletes and appreciate that the journey always begins with one step at a time. I tell my girls all the time that they make me a better person, and I couldn't possibly mean it more sincerely!

CF: I don’t think I would have. If I did, I don’t think I would be in the position that I am in today.

MEF: If you could imagine the possibilities, what do you see in MHS’s future in 10 years?

AF: The future of MHS holds endless possibilities and students who are going to change the world. Over the next 10 years, I envision our wholesome community will continue to welcome back impactful alumni and inspire the next generation to pick up any missing pieces and keep pushing us forward. I look forward to hopefully working alongside some of my former students and athletes because that is truly what it is all about.

CF: I see Morristown High School continuing to build on providing excellence in athletics and academic programs for all our students. MHS is a special place where everyone is welcome and supported, so it’s naturally the place to be!

MEF: Anything else you would like to add?

AF and CF: Thank you for the opportunity and Go Colonials!