Ms. Sweeney is the kind of teacher that is not as recognized as other teachers may be, but surely deserves to be. For 3 years, she has taught the same students, and so we’ve all gotten to know her. She is kind, wise, and supportive and deserves all the credit. 

Ms Sweeney is the Woodbridge School District’s G and T teacher, who works with all students at Avenel, Fords, Islen, Woodbridge, and Colonia Middle School. Teachers have to be appreciated more in general. Teachers shape our future and support their students in their learning. Your class is like your extended family, and your teacher is like your parent.

She has taught for 24 years, including her 16 years as a high school/middle school teacher and 8 as a G+T teacher. However, teaching wasn’t always her first choice. “As a child, always said I wanted to be an ‘actress.’ But I didn’t have any acting opportunities, so when I went to college I took some classes in a subject that was always my best; English! I liked to read, not so much write, but I loved to read. So then I decided to go into teaching. My mom worked in a school, my older sisters were teachers, and we all kind of went the same path. And teaching is very similar to acting,” Ms. Sweeney feels that acting is also involved in teaching because you have to perform for your students and present your knowledge.

It’s always good to find a job that you are interested in and passionate about. You shouldn’t dread your job, and I agree. Enjoying your job means being more productive. It shouldn’t come at the cost of your well-being.

Teachers aren’t just teachers. They have a life outside of school. For many ways, becoming a G+T teacher was a lot better for Ms. Sweeney. Ms Sweeney knew that the job would be perfect because, “So in my 15th year of teaching I taught an honors class. I’ve never taught an honors class before. And I was like, ‘wow, this is pretty amazing.’ Because kids actually do the work. We were reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and having the most incredible conversations and I was blown away, teaching students like that.” She had the chance when her very good friend, who was a G+T teacher, suggested the job to her.  Mrs Sweeney is a mother who has her own private life. She has hobbies and interests and her own things to do. So she thinks G+T is a great job for her because she gets enough free time for herself. Because your own personal time is just as important as work.

Ms. Sweeney always enjoyed English, “But I taught the subject for so long and that age for so long, and although I loved it, I knew that I wanted to grow and expand as a human. Change is good. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s good. 

So by the time I finished having children, and they were at an age that I felt comfortable taking on more responsibility in teaching, I decided to transfer to the high school. I taught high school English for two years. 9, 10, 11 are the grades I taught. I taught at the high school for two years at JFK. Loved it. Hardest I’ve ever worked in my whole life because I had to learn two new curriculums in one year at the same time. Two new curriculums, and then one the following year. So it was a lot of learning and I really enjoyed that. And I felt a lot of responsibility for preparing my students for college, because I felt like I was not prepared to go to college myself. I put a lot of work and effort into preparing them because it meant a lot that my students felt prepared.”

It’s amazing that there are teachers who care to put that effort into their students. It’s the teachers who really care about their jobs and the children who they are mentoring throughout the day that really get remembered.  And I will always remember Ms. Sweeney for her passion.

When asked about the G+T program and who should be eligible, Mrs. Sweeney said, “I think its for students who like to learn. Just because you’re smart or have a high IQ (which is really what you need to get into the program), it doesn’t mean that you belong in the program. G+T is for people who embrace this opportunity that we have every week to learn new things and explore new topics, and I don’t think just because you’re smart means that those are things you like to do. So I don’t think it’s for everybody.”

I feel like, yes, it is for students who enjoy learning. For example,  our problem-solution unit, or gratitude unit provides life lessons, while simultaneously learning what’s good for us. 

Most importantly, I want to thank Mrs. Sweeney for the opportunities she has given countless students and the life lessons that follow students through life. Even her support alone has helped her students in so many ways. 

We will forever be grateful and remember her 3 years of guidance, advice, and support.