Past Meets Present: Meet BASH’s New History Teachers

As a new school year kicks off, the history department is bringing fresh energy to the classroom with the arrival of our new history teachers.

Whether they are diving into ancient civilizations or breaking down modern global events, these educators are ready to make the past come alive for students. We caught up with them to learn about their backgrounds, teaching styles, and what they are most excited about bringing to our school community this year. Please welcome Ms. Hoff, our newest addition to the Social Studies department! Bringing a fresh perspective to our high school curriculum, Ms. Hoff teaches ninth-grade U.S. History and eleventh-grade Government and Economics.

Now in her eighth year of teaching, Ms. Hoff joins us after instructing in Oxford and Virginia. Her passion for the

Ms. Hoff a fresh new face to our history department! (Ms. Hoff) subject was sparked by her own high school history teacher, who remarkably taught her and both of her siblings. Reflecting on her first few weeks, she shared, “It has been a big adjustment, but I am really enjoying getting to know everyone and am excited to see how the school year unfolds.”

Outside the classroom, Ms. Hoff loves spending time at the beach with her daughter and her dog. A passionate sports enthusiast, she played college lacrosse for four years at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She is also an avid fan of 1920s American history. A fun fact about Ms. Hoff is that she has an ambitious goal to visit all 50 states—and because she has never traveled outside the U.S., she is fully focused on completing her domestic bucket list!

One of her favorite school traditions is Spirit Week, as she loves participating in the fun and seeing students showcase their unique personalities. For the upcoming year, she leaves our students with a wonderful piece of advice: “It is okay to make mistakes; everyone makes millions of them. Just learn from them.”

Ms. Hoff is incredibly excited to meet the rest of our school community and welcomes every student who walks through her door.

Take a look at our new addition, Ms. Finkbiner We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Finkbiner to the Boyertown social studies department, where she teaches ninth and tenth grade. Now in her second year of teaching, this marks her first year at Boyertown following her previous role at a charter school in Center City Allentown. Ms. Finkbiner earned her degree from Immaculata University, during which time she gained valuable experience teaching seventh-grade social justice.

Beyond the

A leadership presence in the sports field and academics! (Ms. Finkbiner) classroom, Mrs. Finkbiner has a strong background in athletics. A former field hockey and lacrosse player, she now serves as a field hockey coach here at BASH and coaches lacrosse for the Boyertown Optimists. Looking back on her athletic career, some of her favorite memories include the camaraderie and friendships built during team bus rides to and from games. Outside of sports and teaching, she is also an avid reader.

For Ms. Finkbiner, the most rewarding part of being an educator is the opportunity to connect with her students and foster an environment where they feel comfortable being true to themselves. When facing challenging days, her go-to advice is to take a deep breath. She gently reminds herself and others that “it is everyone’s first time living,” encouraging empathy and a recognition that there is often a deeper reason behind someone’s difficult moments.

Academically, her favorite historical era is the Oregon Trail—an interest sparked by the classic game in college and fueled by a fascination with the unpredictable challenges early pioneers faced. This school year, Ms. Finkbiner is especially excited to dive deeper into the history curriculum, guiding her students to step into the shoes of historical figures and experience the past from new perspectives.

Past Meets Present: Meet BASH’s New History Teachers

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