March - TEACHER FEATURE
Regina Scotti - MS English
Mrs. Scotti learned how to make
Byzantine
mosaics one memorable summer
in Ravenna, Italy.
This year was memorable too; being named
"GRMS Teacher of the Year."
What grade/s and subject/s do you teach?
For the past decade, it's been 8th grade English, and I still love it.
How long have you taught at Glen Rock MS?
I've been teaching her for 17 years. Glen Rock is my alma mater. (I graduated from GRHS 30 years ago) and I returned here to teach after leaving two different tenured positions in other districts. My daughter is a 7th grader at GRMS. As it was back when I was a youngster, Glen Rock is still a special place today, but some things have changed! I remember...
What is something you love about teaching?
I genuinely enjoy my students, who are sometimes quirky and funny, and always friendly and lovable. Channeling the sophistication of contemporary 8th graders in the direction of new, abstract realizations from the meaty texts we read inspires me every day.
Tell us something interesting we might not know about you.
For the past decade, it's been 8th grade English, and I still love it.
How long have you taught at Glen Rock MS?
I've been teaching her for 17 years. Glen Rock is my alma mater. (I graduated from GRHS 30 years ago) and I returned here to teach after leaving two different tenured positions in other districts. My daughter is a 7th grader at GRMS. As it was back when I was a youngster, Glen Rock is still a special place today, but some things have changed! I remember...
- The long forgotten GRHS darkroom where photography classes developed their own pictures;
- The haze of dust over the gravel track around the football field;
- The junior high’s library with its fireplace and its entire room dedicated to VHS tapes, records, and cassettes;
- The windowless 7th grade reading lab near the current drama room;
- The biology class’ greenhouse in the courtyard,
- The home economics classroom next to the cafeteria.
- My HS classes with teaching legends Coach Alan Deaett for US History and the beloved “Sponz” for yearbook.
- A young history teacher named Roger Bentzen, who is retiring this year after 40 years!
What is something you love about teaching?
I genuinely enjoy my students, who are sometimes quirky and funny, and always friendly and lovable. Channeling the sophistication of contemporary 8th graders in the direction of new, abstract realizations from the meaty texts we read inspires me every day.
Tell us something interesting we might not know about you.
- I am a cake decorator and have taken two professional classes. When I tired of frosting those standard, predictable cakes with stiff, buttercream roses and simple piping techniques, I turned to dreaming up my own cake designs such as an aquarium-mermaid cake with sharks and sea grasses and electric eels – my signature favorite!
- I learned to make Byzantine mosaics totally by hand when I attended an art school in Ravenna, Italy. I produced two fine knock-offs of attractive Byzantine motifs. I cut the stone and marble into tessera, the little square pieces, using the ancient method of Hammer and Hardie, which was NOT easy. Cement dried pretty quickly in July, and arranging the tessera required one to work quickly. The time there allowed me to see the mosaics in the churches of Ravenna with my own eyes – a bucket list item from my college days. Thank goodness those art history courses brandished glossy pictures of golden, shiny mosaics at me!
Frank Manziano - HS Business/Economics
Mr. M. is also a DECA advisor at GRHS.
What grade/s and subject/s do you teach?
I teach business and economics courses, electives, with most in grades 10-12 this year, consisting of Investing, Economics, Introduction to Business, and AP Macro/Micro economics.
How long have you taught at Glen Rock HS?
I started in September 2013, so this is my sixth year. It has gone by very quickly, so far!
What is something you love about teaching?
Almost everything, except for grading homework! I especially enjoy it when I help students realize that business is something they can do -- they see a possible viable career path (when they weren't sure they'd have one). I really like catching up with students when they come back to say "hi," and they let me know they are thriving at college...and actually enjoying their economics classes.
Tell us something interesting we might not know about you.
In junior high/beginning of high school (I grew up in Oakland, went to Indian Hills HS), I spent a LOT of time drumming — I thought this was my life's path; back then I played in bands and did substitute gigs around town in Bergen County.
I teach business and economics courses, electives, with most in grades 10-12 this year, consisting of Investing, Economics, Introduction to Business, and AP Macro/Micro economics.
How long have you taught at Glen Rock HS?
I started in September 2013, so this is my sixth year. It has gone by very quickly, so far!
What is something you love about teaching?
Almost everything, except for grading homework! I especially enjoy it when I help students realize that business is something they can do -- they see a possible viable career path (when they weren't sure they'd have one). I really like catching up with students when they come back to say "hi," and they let me know they are thriving at college...and actually enjoying their economics classes.
Tell us something interesting we might not know about you.
In junior high/beginning of high school (I grew up in Oakland, went to Indian Hills HS), I spent a LOT of time drumming — I thought this was my life's path; back then I played in bands and did substitute gigs around town in Bergen County.
