Meet Dartmouth's newest teachers
The Dartmouth School Committee welcomed new teachers at a reception on September 11 at Quinn Elementary School. With 30 new members of the faculty, Dartmouth Week was able to sit down with a few of the new teachers to get to know them.
Gabrielle Desmarais Second Grade, DeMello School
When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was very little. In Kindergarten and 1st grade I would always play school with my siblings who didn't enjoy it at all.
What was your favorite subject in school?
History! I just liked learning about other places. Math was so drilled.... History was fun.
Kelsie Brejcha First grade, DeMello School
What is your favorite local place to go to in Dartmouth?
I love the Sail Loft... and Sunrise Bakery for breakfast. I love food as you can tell.
When did you realize you wanted to be a teacher?
I originally went to school for theatre. I moved to New York City and it just wasn't what I wanted. I moved back and started subbing and I knew on the first day of subbing that I wanted to be a teacher. I come from a family of teachers.
What subject did you hate in school?
I hated math, specifically geometry.
Courtney Harrington First grade, DeMello School
What was your favorite subject in school?
I loved spelling, but I hated math.
When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?
I have always wanted to be a teacher, ever since first grade. I loved my first grade teacher, she was the best. I have some of her stuff in my classroom
Jen Alvanas, First grade, DeMello School
Did you always want to be a teacher?
No, I got my undergraduate degree in Psych, than I spent a good number of years doing teacher things, like being a para and I taught in Korea. I knew to teach my own class, I would need to get a masters so I did.
What did you want to be when grew up as a kid?
I think I wanted to be a teacher or a dolphin trainer. It was some form of teaching either teaching people or animals.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Math... I love it. There is always a right and a wrong answer.