So You Think You Know Your Teachers…

Some Sixth Grade Teachers

Name: Padraig Barry

Teaches: Science

Room number: 25

Worst thing you could do in his class: Drink hydrochloric acid thinking it was water.

Origin story: Some friends said I would make a good teacher.

Most important thing he does for his students: Make sure they’re having fun learning.

 

Name: Rebecca Guenther

Teaches: Language Arts

Room number: 11

Worst thing you could do in her class: Throw up.

Origin Story: I like helping people. I was going to be a nurse until I realized I couldn’t stand the blood.

Most important thing she does for her students: Treat them with respect and as individuals, and hope they come out of my class with a new appreciation for LA.

 

Full name: Margaret Somerville a.k.a. “Magistra”
Room number: 24
What you teach: Prima Lingua and 7th and 8th grade Latin
Worst thing someone could do in your class: Take all of my froggie pencils!
Origin story: At some point I stopped paying attention to what my teachers were teaching and starting paying attention to how they were teaching. I realized I was starting to gather strategies, techniques, methods, and stories that I wanted to use in my own classroom.
Most important thing she does for her students: Help them to learn who they are as learners and to value the variety of ways in which people learn and teach and interact with the world.

Name: Ryan Tozer

Teaches: Math

Room number: 23

Worst thing you could do in his class: Not give effort and/or say you can’t do math.

Origin Story: I enjoy problem solving, working with young people and helping change their mindset when it comes to math.

Most important thing he does for his students: Instill confidence in my students, give them constructive feedback, and help them maximize their full potential as students.

 

Some Seventh Grade Teachers

Name: Jebb Chagan

Room number: 17

Teaches: Social Studies

Worst thing you could do in his class: Draw on my white projector screen with a marker. (Mr. Chagan did that.)

Origin story: I felt as though history and athletics helped me to make a connection with young people.

Most important thing he does for his students: Allow students to be heard and respected. Tell “great” jokes.

 

Name: Anne Kenealy

Teaches: Language Arts

Room number: 13

Worst thing you could do in her class: Talk over a classmate or otherwise disrespect a student’s ideas or words.

Origin story: I was an English major in college and I love reading and writing. I decided I wanted to be a part of a community of young readers and writers.

Most important thing she does for her students: I hope I help them see the world through another person’s perspective and to share their own perspectives through stories.

 

Name: Lisa Mansure
Room: FCC Lecture Hall
Teaches: Health and coaches field hockey, swimming and lacrosse. I also teach 10th grade health, physical education and lifeguarding classes at the Upper School level.
Worst thing someone can do in her class: Not be truthful
Origin story: My college guidance counselor recommended that I give teaching try.  I went for a job interview at a small private college preparatory school in Michigan and had a great time!  Received a call the next week from the headmaster offering me the job, and the rest is history.
Most important thing she does for her students: Listen to them.

 

Mame: Caroline Jean-Marie Maw-Deis
Room: Shallcross Art Studio
Teaches: ART to ALL of the wonderful Middle School students and some Upper Schoolers

 

Name: Cristina McDonald
Room number: 18
Teaches: Math
Worst thing someone could do in her class: Be “irrational.” ;)
Origin story: I have always loved math and I wanted to share my love with others!
Most important thing she does for her students: I can make sure they are having fun and enjoying the learning process.

 

Name: Nikki Sims

Room number: 14

Teaches: Science

Worst thing someone could do in her class: Mix together random chemicals!

Origin story: I became a teacher because I enjoy building relationships with my students and watching them have those “a-ha moments” when something clicks! And… I also LOVE science!

Most important thing she does for her students: Help them to step out of their comfort zones.

 

Some Eighth Grade Teachers

Full name: Colin Angevine (students call me “BC”)
Room number: Makerspace (FCC building, rooms 125 & 127)
What I teach: Computer Science and I run the makerspace.
Worst thing a student could do: Disrespect another student’s work.
Origin story: I used to teach Latin!
Most important thing he does for his students: Help them work on projects they are truly proud of.

 

Full name: Lauren Davis
Room number: 26
Teaches: French and Spanish
Worst thing someone can do in her class:  Speak English. :) Or say “everyone should just speak English.”
Origin story: I always wanted to be a teacher. Both of my parents were teachers and they tried to talk me out of becoming one. I showed them!
Most important thing she does for her students: Make sure they know that I care about each of them and I am here to support them in becoming their “best selves.”

 

Name: Sharon Morsa

Teaches: Math

Room number: 19

Worst thing someone could do in her class: Surf the Internet while she’s teaching.

Origin story: She worked a job that she hated and realized that she knew she always wanted to be a teacher.

Most important thing she does for her students: To inspire them to want to learn and appreciate math.

 

Name: Patty Zaradic, PhD

Teaches: Science

Room number: 15

Worst thing someone could do in her class: Be too worried about asking questions – please ask if you are confused or just curious!

Origin story: I love science and I enjoy sharing that passion with other people. I continue to learn new things in science all the time and no matter how much I learn, there is so much more to know. Science is all about following your curiosity and discovering new things – you do science all the time even if you don’t realize it!

Most important thing she does for her students: Follow your curiosity and your passion for learning. Please ask questions. Many of the things you wonder about are important questions in science – ask, wonder, explore, share your thoughts and discoveries. There are a lot of areas in science so once you start exploring, you are sure to find something that tickles your curiosity. Go for it!

 

Full name: Michele Zuckman
Room: Chorus Room, 2nd floor of Shallcross Hall
Teaches: MS Chorus, 8th grade music
Worst thing someone could do in her class: Say that they hate a particular style of music without having heard it.
Origin story: I have always loved making music with others.
Most important thing she does for her students:  Encourage them to be generous and collaborative.

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