Staff Spotlight
Interview with Ms. Althea Terenzi, 2023 Olmsted Award Winner
Ms. Terenzi was recently awarded the George Olmsted Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. Nominated by class of 2019 student Shiara Pyrrhus, Ms. Terenzi found out she won this important distinction on April 3rd.
Each year, Williams College seniors nominate high school teachers who have significantly impacted their lives and education. A faculty, staff, and student committee chooses winners from the nominees. Along with a monetary award for both the winner and the winner's school, Williams College invites the winners to accept the award at the Williams College graduation, which will take place on Saturday, June 3rd.
I first wanted to learn how she felt when she realized she had won this prestigious award. "I was surprised. They asked me to write a personal statement, and I just wrote about relationships with students because that's what comes to mind when I think about why I love teaching. So it wasn't anything profound. I was just going to write it because Shiara had taken so long to nominate me; I wanted to follow through with it. So I never in a million years thought that I would win."
After that, I asked her what winning the award means to her, "We don't always get to see the impact we have on students, and this is an awesome example that I do. This young woman I haven't spoken to in four years took the time to nominate me, and getting recognition for my impact on her was amazing. It's cool and motivating."
When asked about her teaching history, she continues, "I started teaching late, when I was 30. And I took a job here just as a long term sub at first, but I fell in love with it. And now I've been here for 16 years. This was not originally my dream. It's funny how that happens. It's like it's meant to be."
Engaging her students is essential to Ms. Terenzi; she enjoys engaging them in class discussions. "I love classroom discussions; those are my favorite activity. I will give my students a piece of literature and then just sit off to the side, listen, and take notes, but I just let them figure things out on their own. I'm learning from them all the time, even when I've read the text 12 times. They always bring up new things. Sometimes I never would have seen it through the lens that they see it."
Her first mentor, Mary Ellen Dakin, was particularly impactful on her education. "She was just on fire for teaching, Shakespeare especially. I thought it was just absolutely astounding how she could get kids as excited about William Shakespeare as she was; her passion was contagious. She was a force of nature, and I always have strived to be like that."
She especially enjoys the camaraderie she experiences with her coworkers. "My neighbors are all really interesting, smart, caring, helpful people. I have so many colleagues I can go to for help or even just to vent or get information or resources. I just work with really amazing people."
When asked for her final thoughts, Ms. Terenzi replied, "I think anybody I work with could have won this same award. I don't think that I won it because of anything special that I'm doing. I think that it's a recognition that all high school teachers have an impact on their students."
Congratulations, Ms. Terenzi, on this distinguished award. We at Revere Public Schools are lucky to have you!
Recently, three of our educators have achieved the highest honor in education: National Board Certification (NBC). The pathway was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. Approximately three percent of educators, in our nation, have earned the letters “NBCT” after their names.
Achieving NBC is a one to three-year process and involves submitting four components:
- A computer-based assessment that asks the candidate to demonstrate their understanding of content knowledge and pedagogical practices for teaching their content area
- A classroom-based portfolio entry that requires candidates to gather and analyze information about individual students' strengths and needs and use that information to design and implement instruction to advance student learning and achievement
- A classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between the candidate and their students.
- A portfolio entry that requires the candidate to demonstrate evidence of their abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner in developing and applying knowledge of their students; their use of assessments to effectively plan for and positively impact their students’ learning; and their collaboration to advance students’ learning and growth (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards)
Achieving NBC is time and energy intensive and requires determination and dedication. We are honored to congratulate our three educators for their distinguished work.
We talked to Jodi Langone, Nawal Faris-Cochran, and Elizabeth Ebner, our three recipients, to hear about their experience completing this rigorous (and rewarding) work.
Jodi Langone is a first-grade teacher at the Paul Revere Innovation School.
She is quick to laugh, and her sunny classroom shows that her students are working on several hands-on projects.
“The process of achieving National Board Certification is better described as a ‘journey with many meaningful experiences to be had along the way.’ It is an opportunity for teachers to present, describe and explain their involvement with the school community, engagement with parents and families, classroom pedagogy, and small and large group instruction. The most beneficial and meaningful part of the process is self-reflection.”
And how does it feel to achieve NBCT status? “It feels amazing! It has taught me so much about myself as a teacher. It is also so rewarding to go through this surrounded by colleagues (your biggest supporters) and your students and families (also HUGE supporters)."
Nawal Faris-Cochran used to teach English as a second language at Garfield Elementary School. She is now the elementary language development coach.
You can often find her helping lead professional development or sitting on the Equity Advisory Board.
“Achieving the National Board Certification was an honor and a challenge. It was hard work, mostly self-directed, but with guidance from Michelle and Andrew (our National Board reviewers). Most importantly, it was an opportunity for professional growth and self-reflection through study, self-assessment, and peer review.”
And how does it feel to achieve NBCT status? “I feel so proud of myself and my colleagues who achieved the National Board Certification and are now part of the just under 3 percent of the National Board-Certified educators across the country.”
Elizabeth Ebner teaches 1st grade at Beachmont Veteran’s Memorial School.
Softly spoken with a warm smile, she completed the NBC alongside Jodi Langone.
“The process requires significant self-reflection and a willingness to evolve as an educator. Although very challenging, the process helped me make tremendous strides in my ability to effectively assess student progress and provide each student with what they need to fulfill their potential as members of our learning community.”
And how does it feel to achieve NBC status? “It is an honor to achieve National Board, and I am very grateful to be part of a school community that supported me through the process.”
Congratulations Jodi, Nawal, and Elizabeth. Everyone in Revere Public Schools is proud of your achievements!
American Education Week
Providing an opportunity for communities across the country to celebrate educators' contributions to their communities and get to know the scope of their work on their students' behalf.
On behalf of our students, educators, administrators, caregivers, and community we want to congratulate you for your dedication, hard work, and countless hours teaching and supporting our diverse students and families during American Education Week, which, this year, runs through November 14th- 18th. Whether you are an educator, a custodian, a family liaison, a secretary, a paraprofessional, a bus driver, a resource officer, a translator/interpreter or working in any other capacity, we want to acknowledge and thank you for your leadership, teamwork, and collegiality. We value and treasure you!
Interview with Tracy Pereira
Nominee for "City of Revere’s 2022 Exceptional Latino Educator for State of Latino Education"
By: Anne Bolthrunis
Ms. Pereira is a BCBA (Board Certified Behavioral Analyst) at both the Staff Sargent James J. Hill Elementary School (Hill) and the Beachmont School.
We sat down in a glass cubicle – scientifically referred as “genius walls” in the Learning Common giving us permission to record our interview. She laughs easily and often.
BCBAs are professionals who help solve behavioral issues. Their field is most commonly associated with treating children on the autism spectrum.
Her position in each school means that she, “wears many hats.” “It can really looks very different depending on the day. I could be in an office at an IEP meeting, or entering data, or training staff. I could be consulting with a teacher or in a behavioral management crisis situation, so it’s all different.”
When asked about her philosophy on teaching, she sits thoughtfully for a minute and answers. “Working with students, meeting them where they are, using equitable strategies to reach all students regardless of their backgrounds, working with different students to get them where they need to be, and putting a lot of value into seeing their growth. That might look different for different kids based on the standards that we have and adjusting those standards to meet the students where they are.”
Tracy says she enjoys working and forming meaningful bonds with elementary students and their families. She added that coming from a Latino household has had a positive impact on her relationships in both the Hill School and Beachmont, especially with the families.
As a Portuguese speaker, she frequently finds herself communicating with many families, including those with students she does not necessarily service. “I think it’s nice for them (families) to have someone whom they can speak and relate to – well, I speak Portuguese, so to speak with them, in Portuguese, they have an ally or a safe person, even if they’re not a student I would consult on, but a face of someone who can greet them in Portuguese when they’re walking down the hall, and they think, “oh, I feel safe, I feel like this is part of my home”, so it’s nice to be able to be that person.”
Chris Freisen, Beachmont School Principal, lauded Tracy, “Tracy has been an incredible resource to the Beachmont School Community. She does a fantastic job as our BCBA and has not only become a support for students, but staff as well. She is a true professional -- we value the work she does at “the Hive.”
Revere is a largely Hispanic community and Ms. Pereira believes that coming from a similar background has made a positive impact on how she communicates with families and students.
With an ever-growing Brazilian population, speaking Portuguese has been an asset in her work; sharing a similar culture has helped her forge relationships with the families of students she works with -- “I think it’s really helps me know what it’s like to live in an obviously Latino home and understand the norms for them when communicating with families to understand what is considered normal in their households.”
She continues, “I am truly blessed to be able to speak the language, and be able to relate certain things and messages across because sometimes, with apps like Google Translate or Dojo, they might translate things and just misword it, so it’s good to be able to clarify.”
Until four years, ago, the district had one BCBA for all schools, so being split between only two schools has helped her in becoming an integral part in both schools - to administration, families, and students.
When asked about her relationships with staff, she says that considering the fact that she is split between two schools, it can take some time for members of the school community to get to know her and understand her role in the district. Frequently, BCBAs are pulled in many different directions, and sometimes staff members don’t necessarily understand her role.
“It is a newer role to the staff, so they have to understand what it is that I do, or how I can help, or what the process is for getting services for their students and relaying that information. But it is kind of an island, you’re still figuring it out, but it’s been a cool experience so far.”
“I really enjoy being able to make connections with the schools, and make connections with the admin as well, being able to get involved with school culture, I get to say, “These are my schools!”
Melissa Lomas, Principal of the Hill school, added “It is a pleasure and privilege to work with Tracy. She not only supports our students when they need that support the most, but she is also able to model for the adults how to react appropriately to potentially challenging situations with students.”
I asked Ms. Pereira about her reaction when she found out about the nomination, and she laughed before answering, “I saw the external email and I assumed that it was maybe spam…But once I found out that it was legit, I was like, “Wow, this is such an honor!” And it’s nice to be recognized, because I feel like my job itself, I don’t have a classroom, but I do service children, and it’s nice that someone is noticing that, and being recognized is such an honor for me.”