Sixth through Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher

Throughout my life I have had many great teachers. Some who captured my undivided attention with their exciting approach to learning, some who nurtured me and inspired me to try harder, some who made me laugh... little did I know they were modeling all the traits I would one day value in myself as an educator. But even if you took all of these amazing educators from my past and combined their influence, it still wouldn't match the impact of the most amazing role model in my life, my mother. Now my mother was an educator, which I will touch on in a minute, but it started long before that. Even at home, my mother has always taught my siblings and me important life lessons. Time management, accountability, honesty, integrity, and confidence are just a few of the values my mother has always aimed to instill in her children. These principles are engrained in me and benefit me in all aspects of my life, especially my profession. Even if my students leave my class at the end of the year forgetting every Social Studies fact I've taught them, I consider myself successful if I have helped instilled these values in my students. I was lucky enough to observe my mother in the classroom on a few occasions, and there was no question why her students loved her so much. Her charismatic personality, her compassion, and her wisdom and love for learning WITH her kids shined bright, creating a safe environment of encouragement and mutual respect in which the students thrived. I strive to emanate this everyday in my own classroom.

Let's be honest, teaching can be a challenging and frustrating profession. But it can also be unbelievably rewarding. Witnessing positive changes and growth within your students throughout the year and knowing that you played a part in them is an incredible feeling. It fills you with a sense of pride and accomplishment that is unparalleled. Following in my mother's footsteps, it is important to me to create a classroom environment filled with respect, empathy and security. Looking at the relationships I have built with my students over the last 14 years, it is clear that I have accomplished that goal. I am still in contact with students that I had in my first years as an educator. Watching them grow into responsible, civic-minded, young adults is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life and why I would never want to do anything else. I feel teaching comes to me naturally and there is nothing I'd rather do with my life.

School Counselor

Theresa Zucosky has been a member of the Elizabeth Public Schools community since 1998 and is currently a school counselor at Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26.