In high school, students learn valuable lessons, including the importance of friendships, acquiring new skills, and understanding different cultures. However, who do we learn these lessons from? While many might say they learn from their own experiences, the real answer lies in our teachers. Teachers play an important role in student’s lives and education by teaching valuable lessons that contribute to their lifelong success. These lessons arise from their personal experiences as well as their work with countless students over the years.

Although it may seem that teachers are not students’ main source of motivation, the truth is quite the opposite. Teachers genuinely want their students to succeed academically, ensuring they are well-prepared for future careers and college. For many students, school can feel like a second family, thanks to the welcoming and supportive environment created by their teachers, which is essential for their growth.

One exceptional teacher is Mrs. Pezzelle. She elevates the importance of student learning and academic success. She has taught hundreds of students, sharing her extensive knowledge, and dedicates her time to ensuring her students achieve greatness like her. Mrs. Pezzelle teaches psychology and United States government and is also a coach for our volleyball teams. This reflects her immense commitment to her students and athletes, regardless of whether they are in her classes.

We asked Mrs. Pezzelle, “What inspired you to pursue a career in teaching government and psychology?” She shared her motivations with us. “When I first started teaching I don’t know I wanted to do those. I had a teacher in High School that I loved who inspired me to become a teacher,  but it wasn’t my government or psychology teacher. But once I was teaching 8th grade, I used to do a government unit, and it was my favorite. So, when I moved into high school I decided to teach government. And I was interested in psychology because I had a ton of experience as a student. When I taught regular psychology, I loved it and thought it was interesting and really wanted to get trained on how to do AP psychology, and it’s absolutely my favorite class.” 

When we followed up with, “How do you balance your time between teaching and coaching? How do you motivate your team and your students?” she provided insightful answers of “I wouldn’t say I balance my time very well. I would say I get a lot of energy from coaching. I do love having my players in my class, and they’ll tell you that I do carry a lot of my psychology over into my coaching, and that’s because psychology plays a role in everything. So, in terms of developing lessons, we do a lot of collaboration and theres a lot of people in this building who talk over government and know a lot about it, and I feel like that really helps, so I don’t always have to come up with it all on my own. 

Mrs. Pezzelle’s dedication to her students paves the way for their bright futures through her teachings. She is one of the many teachers who create a safe and nurturing environment for learning, making school a second home for many students.