The Official FEA Book
2010-2011
Table of Contents
TEACHERS
Mrs. Nagy……………………………………………………….. 4 - 6
Mr. Joujan ……………………………………………………… 6- 7
Mr. Baltz ………………………………………………………… 7
Mr. Iannello ……………………………………………………. 8 - 9
Mrs. Erdman ………………………………………………….. 9
Ms. O’Connor ………………………………………………….. 9– 10
Mrs. Baylis ……………………………………………………. 10 - 11
Ms. Devine……………………………………………………...11 - 13
Ms. Wescoe …………………………………………………… 13 - 14
STUDENTS
Maggie Bruce ………………………………………………… 14
Edwin Mejia ……………………………………………………14 - 15
Brenna Ferrera ………………………………………………15
Bonnee Zansitis …………………………………………….. 15 - 16
Kaleigh Birdsong ………………………………………….. 16 - 17
Zach Goodrich ………………………………………………..17
Iliana Mejia …………………………………………………… 18
Kirat Randhawa …………………………………………… 18 - 19
Danielle Gonzalez ………………………………………….. 19
Rosemary Merrill …………………………………………..19 - 20
Nikki DeLeon ………………………………………………… 20 - 21
Miranda Conley ………………………………………………22
Olivia Kolis ……………………………………………………..22
A Message to Our Educators
To the teachers of Freedom High School:
You inspire.
How I wish that I could be there everyday to remind you of this and to acknowledge each act of unsung heroism you perform. Alas, I fear that we as students will never be able to fully demonstrate our gratitude for the enormous impact that you as teachers have had on our young lives.
Thus, I write this message to you as a minute token of our appreciation. I write it to the teacher who spends countless hours planning the “perfect lesson,” who recognizes the value of rigor, and who strives to constantly grow as a more effective educator.
I write to tell you this: You are amazing.
You have changed lives, and you continue to do so each day that you wake up and refuse to settle for mediocrity. Despite the fact that you receive little gratitude from the main recipients of your kindness, you persevere without hesitation.
Nonetheless, Mama Birdsong didn’t raise no fool; I know full and well that there are teachers who are not worthy of accolades. But I’d like to believe that for every teacher who suffers from “I am teacher, hear me whine” syndrome, there are one hundred phenomenal educators who donate every ounce of gusto they possess to helping youths. I know your type has not become completely extinct – the exemplary educator.
So, I along with all of the members of the FHS Future Educators Association thank you! We hope that this book can stand as a symbol of our gratitude. Thank you to all of those who participated to make this book a reality!
Enjoy!
Kaleigh Birdsong
FHS Future Educators Association President
2010-2011
Greatest Moments in Teaching
Mrs. Nagy
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” the woman asked.
“A teacher,” I replied.
“Really?” she questioned.
“Yes, I really want to be a teacher.”
“Why?” she pushed me for an answer.
“So I can make a difference,” I assured her.
And so the long journey began into a world that I knew little about. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I knew a lot about school and learning, and I loved being a student. In high school, I took honors courses and graduated in the top tenth of my class. I was only sixteen at graduation because in elementary school I skipped fourth grade and went directly into fifth. In those days, it was a normal occurrence to push a high-achieving student ahead an entire grade.
Again, the age-old question kept resounding in my head. “What do you want to be?” “What do you want to be?” The answer was always the same. “A teacher!” Unfortunately, my family was poor, and a college education was totally out of the question. In my senior year of high school, I was offered a co-op job at The Bell Telephone Company in Easton. Working as a long-distance telephone operator, I went to school in the morning and worked from one to 9 pm every day. I was making decent money and life was supposed to be good. Well, it wasn’t. I not only wanted to be a teacher, but also I needed to be one.
Now fast forward twenty-five years, and add a marriage and three children, plus another job and an eighteen-year career in broadcast journalism. What do you get? A person who is totally frustrated because the career she had wanted since childhood was unreachable, or so she thought.
Then, one day I opened my mailbox, and on the top of the pile was a postcard from Northampton Community College advertising a new two-year program in Education. I jumped at the opportunity despite the fact that I was thirty-six years old!
Well, after graduation with a 4.0 from Northampton Community College and an AA in Education, I went on to Moravian College to major in English. I am proud to say that I received my BA as a Summa Cum Laude graduate, and Moravian College awarded me the prestigious Tyler award at graduation. Several years later, I continued on my educational journey and went to Wilkes University for an MS in Classroom Technology.
Finally, I had my college degree, and I could be a teacher! Enter the year 1994 and Freedom High School. I asked myself, “Isn’t this what you wanted for years and years?” My knees were shaking, and I’m sure my hands were, too, as I walked into room 211 to face a class of freshman. I had been offered a one-year long-term sub position for a teacher who was out for cancer treatment.
After the first day of teaching, I knew this is where I needed to be and that all my sacrifices were worth every single minute. As I reflect on more than fifteen years in the classroom, I know I have touched many lives, changed many futures, and had a major impact on thousands of young people’s lives; however, one particular student tops my list of what I call “success stories.”
To begin, her name was Kasey. Her straight, blonde, shoulder-length hair swung as she bounced into my room at a middle school in New Jersey. I taught there for five years after the one-year sub position at Freedom had ended. Kasey was a talker, enthusiastic, intelligent, and autistic. Teaching an autistic child was an experience I will always remember. Their moods can swing from upbeat to totally depressed in a matter of minutes. When Kasey did not want to do her work, she didn’t do it. When Kasey pitched a fit and threw her binder and books on the floor, the other students cringed. When Kasey threatened other students merely because they “looked at her,” it was even scarier.
Many times, Kasey would shout and tell me that she didn’t like me and that she was not going to do her work at all that day. Using my best “matter-of-fact voice” I would tell her, “Kasey, you need to do that assignment because it’s your job.” I’d challenge her to do her best, admonish her if she fooled around, and cheered her on when she stayed on task.
That was seventh grade, and the following year when Kasey was in eighth grade, she came flying into my room the last day of school with a wrapped present under her arm. She was so excited she could hardly talk. With her huge toothy smile, she blurted out, “I love you, Mrs. Nagy! I made this for you!” Tears filled my eyes as I opened the package that was wrapped in newspaper. It was a handmade plaque adorned with apples and my name engraved on the front. However, on the back in her own handwriting she told me how special I was to her and that she had been through emotional problems. She thanked me for always listening to her and not making her feel “stupid.” She said, “You made me feel like I was somebody.”
“I made her feel like she was somebody!” I told her, “Kasey, you ARE somebody. You are somebody very special, and some day you are going to know just how special.” To this day, I wonder if she still remembers seventh grade, the handmade plaque, and me because I will NEVER forget her!
Mr. Joujan
I am currently in my 5th year as a math teacher, and I don’t really feel like I have a single greatest moment. Maybe I will someday, but for now, my “moment” is really a collection of moments. Last year, I received feedback from several seniors at different times at the end of the year who each said that they felt they had learned more in my class than in any other math class they had ever taken. One student told me that he had never before felt like he could do well in math, and he finished the year with an A in my class. I also received an email from a parent last year who thanked me for “being a great teacher and making a difference.” Messages like that from students and parents give me a lot of motivation to keep working harder to be as effective as I can. Even when I get positive feedback, though, I know I can keep finding ways to teach better and reach more of my students each year.
Mr. Baltz
I often have students return after they graduate and tell me how much they enjoyed and appreciated my class. This is great to hear; however, this summer I received an email that was the most positive experience to date.
The student who sent the email graduated two years ago. He was not the brightest student in that class, nor was he the most dedicated. He didn’t stay after for help nor was he a member in my club. He was the class “goof.” Needless to say, I was surprised to hear from him.
He started by explaining where he was in college and struggling to choose a major. Then the shocking moment: he was thinking of becoming a teacher! The reason he emailed me was because he thought I was an excellent teacher and he learned so much from me and my class. You can imagine my surprise. He then listed several thought provoking questions about teaching and how to balance a career and a personal life.
These are the moments you hope for as a teacher. You made a difference and didn’t even realize it at the time! Some students mature right before your eyes, and some take a little extra time. Either way, it’s rewarding for me.
Mr. Iannello
My greatest moment in my short career as an educator thus far really was a difficult question to consider. I did not realize that each day I would be taking my job home as much as I do. When I get home after a day of school and a long night of coaching football for Broughal Middle School, my thoughts immediately turn to earlier in the day and if I did my job to the best of my ability. Did I really do everything I could to get the most out of my class that day?
As my fellow special education and regular education teachers know, progress with our disabled students can be slow. Sometimes, painfully slow. My greatest moment is whenever I see that look in one of my student’s faces where they finally have comprehended the material. I can remember watching cartoons (not years ago, but weeks ago) when that little light bulb goes on above someone's head. High School special education students have spent their entire life knowing that they were different. For some reason, they cannot grasp things as quickly as their fellow peers. But that is what we all must realize, our special education students are different not dumb. What can I do differently that will help these students reach their potential?
Being able to reach special education students has been a dream of mine since middles school. My younger brother was in special education his entire life. He was non-verbal until he was 5. If you saw him walking down the street, you wouldn't need a doctorate degree to label him as "special". He struggled throughout his school years with reading and math. He even struggled with his daily living skills. Long story short: He graduated two years ago from the SAME high school as me, and has been working as a Nursing Assistant at a retirement village for 2 years. He is competitively employed and paying a lot of his own bills. I can honestly say now that we did not think this was possible when he was younger. The strides that his teachers made with him inspire me every day to come in and try to make a difference. I feel that if all teachers could just try and put that difficult or disruptive student on a personal note (what if this kid was my brother, son, daughter?) then it would be a lot easier to deal with. I wish you all the best of luck in your careers; you have picked one that I personally believe is the most fulfilling job you could have. I was lucky enough to get a job right out of college at the age of 21. Hopefully within the next 30-40 years, we will all be fortunate to see many more light bulbs go on, within students and educators.
Mrs. Erdman
So many times, people don’t think that struggling learners value education. Yet, it was a great moment for me to provide college recommendations for students who were struggling learners. While I had taught them in 10th grade, they were able to see the value of school and education, and they not only graduated high school, but they also planned to attend college. That to me is a great moment – when I see students realizing their potential and valuing education.
Ms. O’Connor
Last year, the first year of 9th grade teaming, took a toll on every team teacher. The year was overwhelming, and the kids didn’t seem to understand or appreciate how much work we put in to every lesson, how much time we spent grading, or the great lengths we went to in order to make our team feel like a community. It had its good days and bad, but I had honestly never experienced the level of stress I did that year. I felt defeated; it seemed at the end of the year, regardless of the work I had put in, the kids had not realized how much teaming really benefited them, and I only received a handful of “Thanks” from students.
On the make-up day of finals, after all my final exams were given and I sat at my desk grading 115 exams, a student entered my doorway. I was surprised because I had nobody scheduled for make-ups and all my students should have been rejoicing in their first day of summer. However, this student came in my room soaked in sweat and breathing a little heavy, and it was obvious that he had just taken a long walk or run to the school. Thankfully, it was one of those students that I didn’t mind seeing after the year’s end. He came in with a fancy little bag and placed it on my desk. He smiled, and said it was a gift for me, and thanked me for being his teacher. I hugged him (despite the sweat), and wished him a good summer.
When he left (I never like to open gifts in front of the giver), I opened the bag. Inside was a card that was made out “Auntie O” that thanked me for being such a great educator. It was signed from “My nephew.” I laughed. I had no idea that I had meant that much to this particular student. I opened a box that had a beautiful little “Angel of Teaching” that I keep on my desk every day. He also threw in a bookmark with a cat on it that was “a present for my cat.” Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, but it just showed how much he cared enough to do something cute like that. It was obvious that he picked it all out himself, which was what mattered most (and that he ran it to me on his first day of summer). Maybe this doesn’t seem like a big deal to anyone else, but after the year I had, getting that gift on the last day made me remember why I put in all the effort in the first place. It reminded me that despite a turbulent year, I love my job and always will.
Mrs. Baylis
I don't know that I've had any one huge moment as an educator that stands out as a defining moment. Rather, there has been a collection of small affirmations that remind me that this is what I should be doing with my life.
One that still means a lot to me came in my 3rd year at Freedom. Teaching is a highly individual activity. Everyone has their own style, their own interpretation, and their own idea of what's important and what is less so. You're always feeling the pressure to get through the curriculum. There's not a lot of immediate feedback about how well you are teaching and whether or not your students are really learning or simply regurgitating short term information for you when you give tests. When you do get meaningful feedback, it's sometimes a year or two after you've had the students. You can appreciate how frustrating that can be. In some ways you are essentially teaching blind.
I received an email from a parent, who wanted to relay to me a conversation that her son and 3 of his friends were having with her in the car on their way home from practice. They were talking about different teachers they had that semester, and her son mentioned that he had me. Two of the other boys were former students of mine, and they told him that I was a good teacher. The mom asked what made me so good. The reply? “Mrs. Baylis teaches till we get it.” It means more to me still than any position I hold, committee I sit on, or degrees I attain. When I'm feeling this pressure to move on, the looming end of the quarter, the impulse to wrap up a unit too quickly - I remember those boys, take a deep breath, and listen to my gut.
Ms. Devine
As I think about all the times that I have felt being a teacher is what I was meant to do, it is hard to choose just one positive experience. It is very easy to become bogged down by the frustrations and paperwork of being a teacher, but the little things make it worthwhile. The friendly hellos in the hallways or the influx of students that come find me during the first week of school just to catch up after the long summer mean so much to me.
If I had to choose just one experience that truly reminded me about how special the teaching profession is, it would have to come from my first year here at Freedom. I started in October after a math teacher got another position in the district for the year. I came in during my student teaching experience with Moravian College and was placed at Freedom for a full-time position at the same time. Though I had a year of teaching at a non-traditional school under my belt, I was beyond nervous to be teaching public high school students. I kept referring back to all of my classes and what I have learned from being in the classroom as far as classroom management, integrating technology into lessons, and pages upon pages of lesson plans for each day. I was lucky when I took over the math position, because I had a great group of students. However, it was certainly difficult because I was not the students’ teacher from day one. I spent literally hours before and after school making perfect lessons and trying my best to make math fun and teaching with major enthusiasm. I put so much effort into every minute of every school day that I sometimes felt like I was a zombie when I was not in school.
I had an honors Algebra 2 class block 4, which was probably the best class that I have had so far, with so many different personalities and so many laughs. I had one particular student that stayed after school for study sessions before test days, answered questions during class, and always gave a considerate smile or laugh even when I would make the most ridiculous joke. She was conscientious and friendly, always assisting others or helping me when I needed it. On the last day of class, as I got a bit sad saying my goodbyes, this student quietly but gracefully came up to me and handed me a nicely folded note that she told me to read later. When I got home that afternoon, I read the note and could not help but cry. In the note, the student praised my teaching and personality as well as acknowledging that she understood that it might be hard coming in to cover for another teacher. She wrote so eloquently of how I made math enjoyable and understandable. It felt so uplifting and encouraging to hear these words said after all of the time and energy that I have put into my job. Feeling that my hard work and enthusiasm touched someone in such a way that she would write such wonderful things really had me surprised. I still have this letter on my desk at home and sometimes glance at it when I am lesson planning. It is moments like this one that make me realize that being a teacher is who I am as a person, what I was meant to do as my career, and what I will continue to enjoy and improve upon for years to come.
Ms. Wescoe
While covering a class several years ago, I met a student who others frequently teased and ostracized. This student expressed that he vowed to never smile again because of the nasty treatment by his peers. He and I got to talking about the Shakespeare play he was reading for English class, and he expressed that he really enjoyed theatre. I encouraged him to take my Drama elective and audition for the spring production. I will never forget the ecstatic expression on his face the moment he saw his name on the cast list. He approached me, his face beaming with pride, and said, “Wow! I can’t believe I’m actually a part of this production! This is the best Christmas present ever!” Now he is an integral part of our theatre company, and I couldn’t get him to stop smiling even if I tried.
Teachers that Had an Impact
Maggie Bruce
My favorite teacher of all time is Dr. Krieger, my 11th grade chemistry teacher. Dr. Krieger was passionate about both science and teaching. Many of her homework assignments and in-class supplements were hand-made, and she told tales of staying up into the wee hours of the morning just to get our tests graded by the next day. She was definitely dedicated to providing the best learning environment possible for her students, and making sure we got the information we needed. The enthusiastic way she described chemistry and the interesting methods she used to teach, like her "Moe's Mall" production to teach stoichiometry, made me want to delve deeper into the world of science. I think the passion that Dr. Krieger has for her position is what truly makes a good educator. She was enthusiastic about the subject matter, but also dedicated to making her students enthusiastic about it as well.
Edwin Mejia
One of my favorite teachers that I've ever had was Mr. Kramer, back in 2nd grade. He was always really nice to me because he thought I was really smart. I remember doing math problems and getting them all right and from that moment on he was ecstatic about me. In NY, we used to use the word "beast" for everything. For example, "Yo man! Why you beastin' on me?" or, "Ayoo! That girl is beastin' on you man!" The word could be a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, I remember explaining to him the usage of it, and he started using it normally, even though he was extremely white, unlike the rest of us using it. It was a funny experience. I also specifically remember him getting cake from another teacher's in-class party and asking me if I wanted any. I didn't want to seem like a nerd so I said no, but then on another occasion, he got pizza and he asked me about that too. That time I said sure, and I felt like a teacher's pet, but I didn't care because I also felt special. He always treated me like an adult and I appreciated it, so I consider him one of my favorite teachers ever.
Brenna Ferrera
My favorite teacher was Mr. Wallesa. He really helped me out with history last year and encouraged me to take the honors test. I probably wouldn’t be in Honors History if it weren’t for him. He also offered to help me out this year if I need extra help and last year he offered to help me study for the midterm since I just transferred into his class. Mr. Wallessa was the best, and I hope I have him again. He really taught me a lot, plus he was really funny! He made learning fun and made history my favorite subject.
Bonnee Zansitis
Ms. Baylis impacted my life in a way no other teacher has. Since my freshmen year of high school, she has always been kind and welcoming. She made everyone feel loved and cared for in every way. During my sophmore year, my mother passed away from ovarian cancer. While I was going through the hardest time of my life, she comforted me and understood my every need. Ms. Baylis was a huge part of why I was able to get through that tough time and I'll never forget how caring and sensitive she was.
Kaleigh Birdsong
One teacher. The task of coming up with just one teacher who had the most impact is honestly quite daunting for someone like me – I’ve been fortunate to have so many positive influences in my life! For the most part, I have benefitted in some way from every single one of my teachers. Since elementary school, my heroes have always been my teachers; choosing just one out of that bunch feels insufficient. Therefore, I feel compelled to give an honorary shout-out to the following educators whom I truly admire for an abundance of different reasons (sorry in advance for the ridiculously long list! Brace yourself!) : Ms. Rivas, Ms. Wescoe, Mr. Young, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Kolb, Dr. Krieger, Ms. Dees, Ms. Devine, and Mrs. Stauffer. Then, there are a whole slew of teachers that I technically never even had, but they too have influenced me in indirect ways, although they may not even be aware of it. They include Ms. Baylis, Mrs. Sacarakis, Ms. O’Connor, and Mrs. Ott. Last but certainly not least, an extra special mention should go to Ms. Reaman, my incredible mentor, and Mr. Ziegler, who has graciously taken on the task of advising the FEA (and has patiently accommodated my Type A personality).
But, if I have to pick just ONE teacher, without question it would have to be Ms. Caporaso. There are literally not enough positive adjectives in the English language to describe just how amazing she was and is. She oozed with grace from each bone of her 4 foot 10 inch stature –she was the definition of classy. Having her as a 9th grade English teacher was a remarkable gift. Her passion for the role she accepted as a teacher was evident in every fiber of her being – in her actions, her speech, and her attitude. In her class, I learned more than sentence patterns; I learned the pattern for what I aspire to be someday.
The last day of freshman year was highly emotional for me, for it marked the last time I would ever get to be in the presence of this extraordinary woman. She retired that year, but she did not by any means leave Freedom – there is a whole generation of students and teachers who were lucky enough to know Ms. Cap, and they will forever give homage to her and keep her locked within the walls of Freedom by imitating the passion she demonstrated so beautifully.
Ms. Cap is one of the most sincere, loving and generous people I’ve ever been privileged to meet. She fostered my growth as a student, my love of English, and my desire to become a teacher.
Zach Goodrich
One of my favorite experiences I remember was when I was in Mrs. Caporaso's 9th Grade English Class. (Yes, I was a freshman, a.k.a. "fresh meat"). But one of my most memorable things I did in her class was my giving of a presentation about my "special aspects" to the class. She, as a teacher, made English class seem easy for me, which was a miracle because I had a history of not-as-decent or just-passable grades when it came to English class. She was just a GREAT teacher to work with, and it helped inspire me to apply to do what she does "when I grow up." It was a little saddening when she left after I completed her class. Even though she had been teaching English at Freedom for a long time, I remember she actually told me once that I had "made her feel guilty for leaving now when such a remarkable student just came into the last class of my career." It just touched me. And unfortunately for me, I have not seen that many good English grades again since her class.
That's why I chose to write about Mrs. "Cap" even though she no longer works here, she definitely was one of the best out there and will be remembered fondly.
Iliana Mejia
My favorite teacher in Freedom High School is Ms. O'Connor. She's my favorite because I learned a lot from her like grammar and vocabulary. I really like how she teaches the class and keeps us entertained. Another reason why Ms. O’Connor is my favorite teacher is because she loves the T.V. series "LOST" and that’s my favorite show, too. We just talked about it in class and what happened in the previous episode. She also made the books To Kill a Mockingbird and Romeo and Juliet very fun and enjoyable to read. Ms. O'Connor has a great personality, and she's just awesome.
Kirat Randhawa
In fifth grade in England, I had this teacher called Miss Smith, and I absolutely loved her. I seriously enjoyed school so much that year because she was the teacher. The best part was that she was more like role model and a friend to all her students more than a teacher. She helped me with any problems and would always give us advice to guide us through any situation. She taught us not only the basic school subjects, but also life lessons that would one day mean something to us. She was very patient and understood that every child was a different person. She would wait until we all understood what was going on and we were 100% comfortable with the material. I still talk to her to this day, and I will always remember her because she was a one-of-a-kind teacher.
Danielle Gonzalez
Throughout my schooling experience, I’ve encountered many teachers, some sweet, some mean, but only one that ever left an imprint on my heart – Mrs. Hopper. It was my 8th grade year, and she made it the absolute best. Her teaching methods not only taught me the material I needed to know for my studies, but also inspired me to become a teacher myself one day. She made learning fun, something that most teachers were never able to do. She was able to connect with the students as well as instruct them. She was not only my teacher, but she is now a lifetime-long friend. I can thank her for giving me the persistence to do well in school as well as the persistence to follow my goals and dreams.
Rosemary Merrill
Throughout my life, I've had some really exceptional and fantastic teachers. Not only did they know the material they taught, they knew even more, and they loved both their job and their students. Coincidentally, my three favorite teachers have all taught science. It started in eighth grade with a lovely woman named Mrs. Witt. She was excited everyday about what she got to teach us and what we got to do. There was one time, when we had a project presentation, I brought in my experiment and accidentally blew the breaker in her room. All the lights went out and no one even saw my actual display (which was a really interesting experiment with light bulbs and circuits). It was really embarrassing but Mrs. Witt just said it was awesome and began to explain what happened with the electricity in the room.
In ninth grade, my biology teacher got me excited about bugs. He loved butterflies and entomology, and we all had to make a bug collection. This originally sounded gross – you know, catching, freezing and pinning bugs – but his excitement spread through to the rest of us, and it was an awesome experience. Later on, I went on a field study with this same teacher, Mr. Myrup. This experience was more about geology. We went all over Utah and saw, literally, the layers of the whole Jurassic period laid out on a canyon wall. It was completely indescribable. Not only was he excited, he taught me how to appreciate the science of nature, which was truly fascinating and wonderful.
This brings me up to last year. I took the Anatomy class here at FHS, and I loved it. I had vowed when I saw my brother get stitches that I would never want to know anything about physiology. This, of course, completely turned around. I loved learning the different bones and muscles and dissecting a cat!! Mr. Baltz not only knew what was in the textbook, he understood how it all worked together to create a functioning organism. It seemed like every time anyone asked a question, he knew the answer. He had a wonderful relationship with the students in my class, which made the environment enjoyable, but he still was able to control us. We never just wasted time in the class; we were always learning material and having fun. These teachers have all showed a knack for relating to their students but remaining, very clearly, in charge of the classroom. At the same time, though, the days were filled with the joy – for it is truly a joy – of learning. The absolute best thing about these three mentors, however, is that their character is such that they would be wonderful teachers, even if that were not their employ. A teacher is someone with a strong and good character who can set a good example and buoy us up. These three individuals are the epitome of the ideal teacher.
Nikki DeLeon
Talented, approachable, devoted, role model, best friend, mentor. These words come to mind when I think of my favorite teacher from East Hills Middle school. Mr. Hokenson was my computer technology teacher when I was in sixth grade. His class was always full of surprises and laughter. Since I sat in the back of the room where his desk was, we would always chat about my family, softball, and what was “in”. Mr. Hokenson and I started to become really close, and I felt like I could talk to him about anything. Over the years, when I started to experience difficulty with my family, my weight, and my friends, he was my support system. It was easy to talk to him because he always knew what to say. If I was having a bad day, I would walk over to his classroom and have an effective talk with him. He would tell me not to worry and keep my head up high like the strong girl that I have become. This strong bond between us continued out on the softball field because Mr. Hokenson was the coach of the team. He never put us down or told us how bad we were. He only gave us the positives and improved our playing techniques. As a softball player, I feel like I get most of my experience from him. Mr. Hokenson was the best softball coach anyone could ask for. The most important thing I learned throughout my softball career at East Hills is that a team is like a family. We all need to get along and agree with each other in order to be successful. Whenever there was a problem between teammates, I made sure he was told right away so he could come up with a solution.
To this day, our relationship is still strong. He has become a father figure in my life, and I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s one of the greatest people you will ever meet. My family and Mr. Hokenson’s family have become close friends. We still keep in touch and stay updated with each others lives. I will continue to cherish the memories we shared and the role he plays in my life right now. I am lucky to have someone so special in my life.
Miranda Conley
My favorite teacher would be my Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Receen, at my elementary school, Governor Wolf. She was my favorite because she was always so kind and sweet, and she had so much patience. Mrs. Reecen always encouraged us and never yelled. Out of all the teachers I’ve ever had, I just always got along with her and liked her the most.
Olivia Kolis
Usually everyone has a favorite teacher that they love. For my favorite teacher, I would have to choose Mr. Stellato. Even though he's not an academic teacher, he is one of the best teachers I've ever had. I've known Mr. Stellato since I was 5 years old way back in Miller Heights! He was my gym teacher and even back then I thought he was the coolest teacher ever! Actually, one of the first days I ever had him after gym class I went to go get a drink and as I was opening the door, he opened it too and it ended up smacking me in the head! That's one of the funniest memories I have with Mr. Stellato! But, Mr. Stellato would do anything for me, and he is always here for me. He always makes me smile if I have a frown on my face, and always makes sure I'm happy. One time during gym class I was having a horrible day and I was stressing over a math test. He asked me what was wrong, and I told him about the math test, and he let me go get my stuff and study for the entire gym class. It's not every day that a teacher would do that for you. He always reassures me that any time I have a problem that he'll always be here to help and not many people just offer to do that. So, thank you Mr. Stellato for being the best!
Dedicated to the extraordinary teachers of Freedom High School!
