CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO A GLOBAL SOCIETY
Contributing positively to a global society is an integral part of Mineola's mission statement. Students can contribute by being involved in their community - which oftentimes starts in school. On a large scale, these school endeavors would inspire students to leave Mineola High School with an understanding that every action they take has a ripple effect. Their actions affect the world around them, and they have the power to change their community and their society in a positive way through the choices they make. As a teacher, I have been very involved in the school community for the past 4 years. I hosted Mineola's first Girls Who Code club, and also am a member of many teams that help to make the district run smoothly. I love attending sporting events and other events that the school is running to help out and show my support for my students. In addition, I always try to make connections in Algebra and Computer Science to real life. While there is a lot of material to cover in Algebra 2, I make sure to diversify the way I asses, and always remind students where they can see the topics used in real life. In AP Computer Science Principles, students have an easy time making connections to real life and seeing the grand impact that computing innovations have on our everyday lives! Below you can find some of the things I have been involved in throughout my years at Mineola High School.
EdCamp 2017
First Year
I remember how excited I was to attend my first EdCamp. I did not know what to expect, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. I was still a little shaky with utilizing all of the features of the iPad, and I learned about so many amazing new applications and resources that I still use to this very day.
EdCamp 2018
Second Year
The second EdCamp I attended was at Mineola High School! It was really exciting to be the district that was hosting it, and the turnout was great. I once again learned so much from both my coworkers and also teachers from other districts. It was great to be able to collaborate and share ideas.
Presenter at EdCamp 2019
Third Year - Presenter!
This year, both myself and Jillian Edwards felt confident with Canvas, and wanted to share our knowledge! We booked a room and created a presentation. We loved helping others, and it was nice to be able to chat about the different features on Canvas, and ways to use it to its full potential.
Contributing Positively
2019 #MineolaProud
Mineola Proud night was an incredible event where students of all ages demonstrated what they were learning in computer science and technology. It was an amazing night of students showcasing their talents & hard work! There was so much passion & excitement in the air about all of the wonderful things made possible here by students, staff, & parents at Mineola. Two of my students from APCSP volunteers to showcase their Create Tasks!
2019 Adelphi "Women in Coding" Hackathon
Kuri DiFede and I took a group of girls to a girls-only Hackathon! Our girls were hard at work from start the finish. They began the day with a Keynote speaker and learning more about the field of coding as a job, then they began working together in small teams to create a game of their choosing on any platform they wanted. Mineola took the LEAD - getting 1st and 2nd place in the final stage of the competition!
2020 KidOYO Hackathon
Kuri DiFede and I took a group of students to participate in the first annual High School Hackathon event hosted by KidOYO. Our students were so excited, and they worked together to try to formulate a good plan to outsmart all of the other teams. Their passion and resilience was a sight to see. They barely took a break! We were very proud of them, and they were so excited to compete again when the next competition happens. Mineola was in the lead for the first half of the competition!
2020 Women in STEM Cradle of Aviation Field Trip
Kuri DiFede, Lauren Goldfarb and I took a group of 28 girls to the Cradle of Aviation to experience a day full of learning! The girls went on a tour of the museum, and learned amazing facts along the way. They were able to sit with a panel of astronauts and ask them questions - our Mineola girls had some great ones! It was a very empowering day. The girls left knowing that they are capable of achieving their dreams if they put their mind to it and give it their all.
2020
Challege Day
Words cannot express how grateful I am that I got to experience this day with my students. It was very emotional for both teachers and students. Conversations got deep and tears flowed heavily, but it was also a very peaceful and uplifting day. This occurred only one month before schools had to go remote. Challenge Day allowed all students (and teachers) to see that we are really all the same, regardless of our past. I am so proud of our students for being so respectful to their peers.
My Twitter Feed
My Twitter has become an integral part of my life as a teacher! Not only can I share ideas, but it became a spot where I go to connect with other educators from across the United States. Especially during the pandemic, Twitter has been an incredible tool that allows teachers to collaborate and share ideas with one another. I hope to continue to grow my platform and work with like-minded individuals on how to best help our students be successful and have fun while doing so!