Anyone who has taken a class of Sports Medicine at Aliso Niguel High School knows that Ms. McClory will bring nonstop energy, humor and passion into every class. A physical therapist by trade, she has truly made a difference in her five years at ANHS.
Born and raised in Scotland, Ms. McClory attended college and university in Glasgow, graduating from the University of Glasgow with a degree in physical therapy.
“I was a Physical Therapist in Scotland for 25 years,” she shares, “I worked mainly in the hospital system and in many departments including cardiology, respiratory, ICU, orthopedics, surgical, medical, home discharge and home rehab.”
After moving to the United States, she began working in special education before finding her way to high school teaching. “I had always dreamed of being a college professor back in the UK,” she said. “However, I’m having so much fun teaching high school!”
Now, as head of the Sports Medicine program, McClory introduces students to the fundamentals of medicine, first aid and the science behind athletic injuries.
Ms. McClory says, “Sports Medicine is a hands-on class that introduces first aid and athletic injury prevention and treatment. We also explore how the body moves, how injuries happen and how we care for them.”
Students in her class learn a mix of medical topics — everything from vital signs and CPR to concussions and broken bones.
“We cover careers in medicine, medical ethics, legality in medicine, vital signs, first aid of wounds and broken bones, concussions, heat illnesses, shock and cardiac arrest,” she said, “Students become CPR certified at the end of the first semester. In the second semester, we cover anatomy and sports-related injuries.”
And while the class has a lot of information to cover, it’s far from boring.
“We do a ton of hands-on activities,” she commented, “Students think it’s all about taping ankles, but it’s so much more! We use clay to recreate anatomy models, do first aid scenarios, muscle and joint testing, vital signs and blood pressure monitoring, concussion labs, spinal injuries — I could go on!”
For students considering a career in medicine, physical therapy or sports training, Ms. McClory’s class is a good place to begin.
“There is a lot of learning and memorization in Sports Medicine,” she added, “however, we have fun doing it.”
From Scottish hospitals to Aliso Viejo classrooms, Ms. McClory’s journey represents how passion and experience can make learning unforgettable. Her students don’t just study medicine; they experience it firsthand through a teacher who happens to love her job.
