Model Teachers at NNPS

Model Teachers:
High School Math

Meet this model teacher team and learn how college, career and citizen-ready skills come alive in their classrooms!

Julia Pipeling

Content: Geometry
School: Denbigh High
Years Taught: 24

What do you love most about teaching?
My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with the students. I felt invisible in high school, and I try hard to make students feel seen and heard.

What is the best way to describe your classroom on a typical day?
Busy!  I try to get the kids working at the board in random groups each day, especially in Geometry class.  That means kids are up and a little noisy, but it is productive.

Leeza Marello

Content: Geometry
School: Woodside High
Years Taught: 9

Why are you passionate about supporting fellow teachers?
As a career switcher, I did not have a lot of training before entering the classroom, and I struggled my first couple of years to find my feet. I have also seen the sheer number of teachers leaving the profession. I wholeheartedly believe that with the right kind of support, more teachers can find the joy and satisfaction in this career field. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with two student teachers in the past and helping them realize their strengths and abilities.

What do you love most about teaching?
I strive each day to help my students understand Math, and, more importantly, teach them why Math is worth understanding. What keeps my excitement and passion going is always finding new and interesting ways to relate what I am teaching to real life scenarios or situations. As a teacher, in general, I hope to inspire a desire for knowledge. As a Math teacher, I hope to encourage a respect and understanding for the language of Mathematics. Nothing is more satisfying than to see the light go on in a student’s eyes and be a witness to the moment when they realize they can do math.