Congratulations to Mrs. Granite for winning the Teacher of the Month award for May 2007!

Down the halls of the second floor in the C wing, classrooms are filled with literary works ranging from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” to Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby to Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Charts are hung with text-to-world connections and posters decorate the walls with definitions of literary terms.

In the center of the hall, there is a cluster of classrooms, known as the C212 cubicle. Here is where Mrs. Granite, this month’s winner, teaches. A lovely lady, she seems to always have a smile on her face. She teaches a unique subject, ESL, better known as English as a Second Language, to foreign students who come to Tottenville High School. Her patience and commitment truly show in her students’ confidence as they learn to master the English language and explore the depths of American literature and culture.

Unlike Mathematics, History, or Science, ESL is a rather unique subject to teach. It requires a large amount of patience and dedication to the students. Upon coming to this country, the students look up to their teachers as a source of guidance and encouragement as they adjust to the typical American high school and the United States.

When asked why she chose to teach ESL at Tottenville High School, Mrs. Granite replied, “I was a first generation American but English was not my first language. I entered kindergarten, speaking only Italian. I remember the difficulties I encountered as a child. Later in life, when it came time to decide what I wanted to become, I realized that I wanted to help foreign students who speak very little English learn how to and become comfortable in our school and in the United States.”

Mrs. Granite is also the advisor of Tottenville’s Chinese Culture Club. When we were discussing her work at the annual International Food Fair, she commented that she really enjoyed being a part of it because she knows what it’s like to want to belong here in the United States and yet feel some connection to your mother country or the country that represents your heritage. It’s important for teenagers especially to embrace their culture and let others learn about it. The International Food Fair presents that opportunity for them in a party atmosphere with food and music.

Being a teacher, no matter what subject he/she teaches, can be stressing. Each individual has their own remedy to relieve stress and relax. Some scream into their pillows and others eat ice-cream watching re-runs of their favorite TV show.

For Mrs. Granite, when she’s stressed, she turns to her athletic side. During the school year, she enjoys doing yoga. During the summer, she kayaks. Both are unique sports that can be stress relievers.

Stress can also come from the difficulty of teaching students, particularly teenagers. I thought it would be an interesting question to ask Mrs. Granite on what she thought was the best part of teaching in a high school.

With a smile, she said, “…when my students graduate and come back to the school to visit me. I know I’ve done my job as a teacher when they come back and thank me for being their teacher.”

When asked what single word could describe her best, Mrs. Granite’s thoughtful side showed as she said with pride, “grateful…for my life and all the people that surround me each and every day.”

Outside of the classroom, teachers enjoy making the most out of leisure time too. For Mrs. Granite, her hobbies include reading, doing yoga, watching her sons play sports, and spending time with her family.

As a fun fact question, I asked her which country she would go to if she had the opportunity to pack her bags and leave the following day. After thinking it over for a while, she exclaimed, “Egypt! It has so much history to see, especially the pyramids. I have had Egyptian students before and when they describe the country to me, it seems to have such an indescribable wealth of beauty. I think visiting there would be quite interesting.”

Mrs. Granite was a wonderful teacher to meet and talk to. If you happen to see her in the halls, don’t be shy to wave for you’ll get a smile and wave back in return!

**The Chinese Culture Club meets on Wednesdays in Room C212A. If interested, listen to announcements for upcoming meetings**