This past September, we welcomed Ms. Piasecki to the History department at MLHS. Coming from another high school in the area, she says that she loves the sense of community here and how it feels like a big family. Like many of us, she thinks that although hybrid learning has been tough, it has also allowed her to step out of her comfort zone and find new ways to engage and connect with her students. She currently teaches U.S History 1 and World Cultures.
Read on to learn more about Ms. Piasecki as we welcome her to our school!
Where are you from?
Middletown, NJ.
What brought you to take the job at MLHS and did you work in any school districts before this one?
I heard wonderful things about the Mountain Lakes School District and the tight-knit community. I worked at another high school in northern NJ prior to working at MLHS.
When did you decide you wanted to become a teacher? What specifically made you decide to become a history teacher?
My 5th grade teacher, Ms. Perpinan, inspired me to become a teacher. She always told my class, “It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice.” It is a quote that really resonated with me, and I start each school year by having my students discuss the quote together. Ms. Perpinan stressed the importance of treating other people the way you want to be treated, and she always made learning fun.
I have always had a passion for social studies education, and all of the vital skill sets (building an argument supported with evidence, analyzing primary and secondary sources, historical context, etc.). I enjoy the opportunity to teach students the stories of history. I think that often people find history to be the most boring subject, and I want to be the teacher that helps to change that perspective. Understanding history allows us to be informed citizens in today’s world, and I want to ensure that my students have a strong foundation so they can be successful.
What is your favorite part about teaching at MLHS so far?
I really am enjoying learning more about the school and students. It is a very tight-knit community, and it feels like a big family.
How is this year different from your past years of teaching in terms of the hybrid model? Does it make teaching more challenging? Are there aspects you’ve enjoyed?
Hybrid has certainly been a challenging time for educators. I would say the biggest hurdle this school year has been technology and working through the obstacles as I face them. The hybrid model has been a learning curve, but it has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, and learn new ways to connect with my students. One of the ways I have done this is by incorporating a daily question to engage with my students, and I really enjoy getting to discuss their responses and learn more about their interests and hobbies.
Just a personal thought about how awesome teachers are (despite the difficulties of doing something no one thought was possible!): I think the hybrid model really demonstrates how hard teachers work to engage with their students, and how flexible and creative they can be. I have learned a great deal from my colleagues (both former and current) about ways to navigate the obstacles and ultimately help my students to be successful. It is important for our students to know that challenges can be worked through, and I hope they can see how hard their own teachers are working to overcome these challenges every single day.
What are some hobbies that you enjoy doing when you aren’t teaching?
I am very passionate about community service and enjoy spending my time volunteering. Before I started teaching, I served a year with AmeriCorps FEMA Corps, where I traveled the country and assisted with disaster response and relief work. When I returned home from AmeriCorps, I helped to create the Kiwanis Club of Middletown (my hometown). Our Kiwanis Club works with a variety of other non-profit, community-based organizations to assist our community. We assist with food drives, fundraising events, community restoration projects, etc. I also serve on the Key Club District Board for New Jersey, assisting student leaders throughout the state with coordinating community service initiatives within their home and school communities. I also currently serve as the Vice President of the Commodore John Barry Club of Brooklyn, NY.
Anything else you’d like the community of ML to know about you?
I am excited to have the opportunity to work in Mountain Lakes, and am enjoying meeting faculty and staff and continuing to learn about the community. This is a tough year to be a new teacher in the district, but I have really appreciated how warm and welcoming the staff and community has been to me.
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