Teachers play a crucial role in shaping young minds. They work very hard to support their students. Mrs. Liastro and Mrs. Douglas, teachers at WMS, share their stories and advice.

Advice for high school success

As 8th graders get ready for high school, their teachers have advice for them.

Mrs. Liastro advises to stay on top of their work and not fall behind, since catching up can be difficult. She also said, “Enjoy every opportunity because there’s a lot of things that you could learn about yourself” and for students to be themselves and to follow their heart, even when it’s hard. 

Mrs. Douglas encourages students to get involved. She said, “Join everything, every club, every activity, you’ll find who you are. Just be the best that you can because highschool can be so much fun.” 

Mrs. Liastro added, “Be kind. I think that it’s just something that we have a hard time with in society today, it’s important to be kind and to be a good person.”

How teachers help students succeed

Teachers have various ways to support their students and help them succeed. For example, some may focus on building connections with their students at a personal level, like Ms. Douglas. 

She stated, “I understand not all students learn in the same way, so I try to connect with them and find what works best for them. I feel like students who feel confident and secure with their teacher are able to be the most successful.” 

She also mentioned how she thinks teachers can shape a student’s future. She said, “It’s difficult, we are in this constant battle with cell phones and different personalities, but trying to make those meaningful connections and getting to know your students is probably the best thing that we can do as educators.” 

However, Mrs. Liastro tries to prepare her students for high school. She said, “I emphasize personal responsibility with work, behavior, staying on top of your tasks, and skills that will be necessary in highschool.” That way her students have an idea of what high school is like.

Paths to becoming educators 

So how did they find their calling to teach? Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Liastro share their journeys how they discovered they were meant to teach. They want to help students succeed and make a positive impact on their lives.

Mrs. Douglas shared she has always loved reading and writing since she was little. She discussed, “I studied literature in college and wrote for a celebrity gossip magazine and I realized I was meant more than that. I started substitute teaching at Ford’s Middle School and I fell in love with it. I went back, started teaching in Perth Amboy and I haven’t stopped since then.”

Mrs. Liastro had a different path. She initially worked in Corporate America, living in New York, but claimed, “ I always felt like something was missing.” 

After losing her mother in 2008, she met many of her mother’s students who spoke about the impact her mom had on them. Afterward, Mrs. Liastro realized teaching was were she was meant to be because she thought if she can make an impact as well, that would be meaningful. She said, “So I quit my job in New York City, I went back to school and here I am today.”

Building relationships with students

For both Mrs. Liastro and Mrs. Douglas, forming strong connections with students is one of their favorite parts of teaching.

Mrs. Liastro loves the relationships she has with her students. She stated, “I love getting to know them and trying to connect with them. I love when they tell me things about their lives and what they like.” 

Mrs. Douglas’s favorite thing is “The 8th graders, getting to know you guys, watching you grow from September to June to your promotion and going of to high school. It’s really an exceptional experience for me.” 

Conclusion 

Following these tips can help you enter high school and maybe this gives you a different view of how much teachers want you to succeed. Remember to thank them for everything they do since they work so hard.