Lynn McManus

What do you teach here at Plaza? Do you have any other special titles?

I teach Clinical Procedures I and II. I am also the Medical Careers Coordinator at Plaza. My responsibilities include placing the students on their medical externship sites and also placing them in allied health positions after they graduate.

Where did you grow up, primarily, and where did you attend college? What degrees to you hold?

I grew up in Woodside, Queens, where I still reside. I attended NY School for Medical Assistants where I was able to become a Certified Medical Assistant and then continued at Hospital for Special Surgery where I received my degree in nursing.

What do you remember about the very first time you ever taught at Plaza?

When I first came to Plaza I thought that it would be nice to get away from the classroom and spend more time with administrative work, but I soon found out that my heart and soul still belonged to the students. My first class was very receptive and eager to learn and really welcomed me with open arms. These students are still in touch with me on a regular basis. Ms. Rebecca Green was in my first Clinical I class and was the first student to pass her CMA exam at Plaza and also has decided to continue in the BA program here at Plaza.

What has been your most rewarding experience in the classroom so far?

The most rewarding experience is when a student comes to me and is overwhelmed and feels like quitting, and we work out a plan together to get them through their difficult times. I think this works both ways because once you have helped someone through a difficult time, then something good always comes your way.

In class, if a lesson isn’t going well, what do you do to get your students’ attention?

Since I teach Clinical I and II, depending on the topic I am teaching, if the lesson is not going well I stop the lectures and give them of a true life experience that has happened to me out in field that relates to the topic. I try to make it humorous to get their attention and then try to get back to the subject matter.

What has been the most hilarious / outrageous thing that has happened in the classroom so far?

A student got up during a lecture and excused herself, about 10 minutes later she still had not returned. All of a sudden another student’s cell phones starts to ring and she just stares at me and replies that the student who left the room was calling her from the bathroom and told her to tell me she was OK but just a little delayed!!!

On another occasion, I was completing a checklist with a student and she did not complete it correctly the first time so I told her she had to repeat it and she “growled “ at me. I have been called a lot of things through the years but I have never been growled at. Another student continuously was applying lip gloss throughout the class, and it was very distracting to me while I was lecturing. After class I said to the student in a joking matter that her new name would be “Sugar Lips,” and she loved it. So, from that day forward, her nickname was Sugar Lips, and her classmates agreed and roared with laughter.

Tell us something about your life outside the classroom. Do you have any interesting hobbies? A family? Have you achieved something special in your personal life that you would like to share?

I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. These roles are the most important roles in my life. I would be nothing without the love and support of my family, and this continues to be my strength and main purpose in my life. When people have children, they tend to say that they want to give them more than they had growing up, but I could never give my son more than I received. My parents gave me everything that I ever needed, which was unconditional love and support. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends that love to listen to music, dance and have an occasional Pina Colada!

What makes Plaza College so unique?

What makes Plaza College so unique is the faculty and the staff. I have only been at Plaza College for two years and cannot believe how everyone has gone out of their way to assist me in any way they can. They are truly a wonderful group of people that I love working with and I am so grateful for my new found friends!

Finish this sentence: Plaza College is:

not just a college. It is a family working together to attain one common goal, which is teaching our students to follow their dreams!

What does a current M.A. student think of Ms. McManus?

“Ms. McManus is a highly educated person, who has nothing but great intentions for her students. She’s very inspiring and encourages her students to be successful in the medical field. She’s a true guide to success.” Yolenny Rodriguez