Background on Mrs Vallary-

Here at Hauppauge High School Mrs Vallary is a valuable member of the teaching staff. Mrs Vallary currently teaches Pre-Calculus, College Calculus, and IB Math SL. In the past, Mrs Vallary has taught a plethora of different math classes except for 8th grade math and Algebra II. Also, Mrs Vallary knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher. She even went on to tell stories about how her and her friends would play school constantly and she would be the teacher. Furthermore, when she had to decide what type of teacher she was stuck between Math and English. She went on to talk about how she chose math because even though she loves reading, calculus was always her favorite subject. After this major decision she went on to study at SUNY Geneseo due to the inclusion of aid, the campus, and the opportunity to join a sorority. A fun fact about Mrs Vallary was she was on the crew team during her time at SUNY Geneseo and it was one of her favorite activities during her time in college. In addition, she went on to say that when her own children were in high school she became a better teacher because it was easier to connect with her students. This gave her the opportunity to truly understand what students were going through when trying to grasp the harsh topics in math.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs Vallary is an avid reader who mostly reads mystery and fiction novels from her favorite authors Jillian Flynn, Colleen Hoover, and even Judy Bloom. So while she loves math it isn’t all of who she is. In her free time she is either watching HGTV or House Hunters to be able to see what it’s like to live in a different country. It’s important for students to realize that teachers are more than who they are at school to make better connections throughout their time at high school. Finally, Mrs Vallary wanted those graduating to know that it is important to make sure you have a balance of work and leisure throughout your college career; it is important because college goes by fast and it’s necessary to take a pause and make time for yourself.

Impact on Students-

The impact of Mrs Vallary on her students has been great over the 26 years she has been teaching. Mrs Vallary is always finding ways to accommodate students whether they are out and need to make something up or if they are having a hard time understanding a topic. One senior student said, “Mrs Vallary is very helpful when students need help. She makes things very concise and easy to understand”. This shows that Mrs Vallary cares about her students and is always looking for different ways to get her students to understand the topic. She is considerate and realizes that calculus isn’t an easy subject. A junior student stated, “She’s an amazing teacher! She challenges me and I look forward to having her again next year.” Clearly Mrs Vallary is an influential teacher and her students love her. I know I consider myself lucky to have her as a teacher.

Way of Teaching-

Though math can be troubling for many students, Mrs. Vallary is always finding ways to make the lesson more interesting and easier to understand. In my class,  she makes sure to get everyone involved and awake even though it’s only the second period. Moreover, when it comes time to review before a unit test we have a day where we get to work with our friends, a fun way to work our way through our struggles. It offers students a way to gain a different perspective. In addition, she goes out of her way to assist her students whether it be through extra help after school or by simply constantly asking the class if they have any questions. She even has a whole calendar on google classroom that shows students what’s going on in the future. For instance, if there is an upcoming test or homework students can find the date of the test there all in one place. Lastly, she makes sure that students are making up the classwork or test, so that they don’t fall behind and can earn a better grade..

Personal Impact-

Mrs Vallary is one of my favorite teachers because any time I need help on something or have a question I know I can go to her. She is someone that is always there to accommodate her students, and gives them access to the help they need. For instance, when it came time to decide which math course I wanted to take next year she helped me work through the pros and cons of the two I was pondering between and discuss why the one she recommended would be better for me. (One of the pros being that I’ll have her next year). In addition, I always feel free to stop by before a test to ask a quick question and have her re-explain it. Another great quality of Mrs Vallary is the confidence she gives her students and how she treats them like young adults. While some teachers put being a friend before teacher, Mrs Vallary is a mentor that realizes that we are still learning and need guidance. Therefore, Mrs Vallary is an amazing teacher because she has fostered personal connections with each of her students, and I can’t wait to have her again next year for College Calculus.