January - TEACHER FEATURE
Leah (Wittenberg) Wallace - HS Math
"Miss Witt" is now Mrs. Wallace!
What grade/s and subject/s do you teach?
This year I teach Geometry, Honors Algebra III/Differential Calculus, and AP Statistics.
In the past, I’ve taught every level of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus.
How long have you taught at Glen Rock HS?
This is my tenth year at GRHS!
What is something you love about teaching?
I love the “Aha” moment that my students have when they understand new material. Especially if math has been a struggle for them in the past, when they finally grasp a new concept, it’s very rewarding for me.
Tell us something interesting we might not know about you.
I was the president of the Muhlenberg (College) Knit Wits; I love to knit!
Michael Valentino - MS (6th Grade) Science
Mr. Valentino not only teaches science; he also composes music!
What grade/s and subject/s do you teach?
I currently teach 6th Grade Science.
How long have you taught at Glen Rock HS?
This is my fifth year teaching at GRMS and 14th year teaching middle school science in New Jersey!
What is something you love about teaching?
What I love most is that I am tasked with the awesome responsibility to spark interest, calm fears, and ignite a curiosity about our natural world so that students leave the classroom with a new appreciation of science and a drive to know more.
To accomplish this juggling act, every lesson I've ever written centers around the idea that students "learn by doing" and I just I love creating lessons and activities that are engaging, hands-on, funny, and relevant to their lives.
Tell us something interesting we might not know about you.
I love film scores and soundtracks and I grew up playing the piano by ear. When I was in middle school, I would mute a movie on TV and try and mimic the musical score or make up my own score to the film. I'm pretty sure they sounded awful, but to my 11-year-old ear, I deserved an Oscar!
For the past 10 years, I have been an orchestral composer and have written dozens of musical scores, jingles, cues and compositions that have underscored many short films, commercials and documentaries. I also just hit 75,000 plays on Spotify for a cover song I recorded of the main theme from The Last of the Mohicans!
