Toll Gate High School Educators Shaping Our Tomorrow

It takes a special kind of magic to bring 100% energy to a room full of tired teenagers on a rainy Tuesday morning. I was in Mr. Sollitto’s American Democracy class last period. It was the beginning of class and he was again…running through his introduction-which if you had him you would know it’s him introducing himself and what the class is. Every. Single. Day.

It hit me then that we were far from the beginning of school and everyone was well acquainted with him and the class material. So the question arose: Why did he introduce himself and his class everyday? What was the point? Then I came to the realization that he generally enjoys his job. He is passionate and it comes through the form of introductory, among other ways as well.

Then it got me thinking further. I have encountered many different versions of passionate teachers, and their special something that makes them stand out. Three specific teachers instantly came to mind: Mr. Madore, Mr. Sollitto, and Ms. Brooks. I asked each of them 3 questions, 2 were the same for each and the last question was dependent specifically for each of them individually.

The first passionate teacher I interviewed was Mr. Madore.

Mr. Madore He was a resource teacher in Mr. Garnos, Physical Science class. When I transferred in, Mr. Madore was quick to make sure I felt welcomed and caught up to speed on the content. I quickly knew the type of teacher he was as he wore his heart on his sleeve. He was supportive, funny, and always quick to make sure the students were up to date on assignments, as well as checking in with them about stuff going on in their life. I found out that it was Mr. Madore who kept the students engaged and motivated in the class, and he generally loved doing it.

Lilliana L.: “What made you decide to go into teaching?”

Mr. Madore: “I was very fortunate to have great teachers during my public school career that never gave up on me and believed in me both through the good times and the bad. Without those teachers I would have most likely slipped through the cracks and would not be where I am today. I wanted to be able to pay it forward and have the same positive impact on Warwick’s future generations.”

Lilliana L.: “ What makes you passionate about teaching?”

Mr. Madore: “High school students are at a crossroads in their lives where the decisions they make will affect them, for decades to come. I enjoy being a safe and trusted adult that can hope to guide students during this pivotal point in their lives. Teaching underclassmen (for the most part) you get to see students’ growth year after year as they come back to you and you become a meaningful part of this stage of their life.”

Lilliana L.: “How do you build trust with students who carry outside stress and/or self-doubt?”

Mr. Madore: “ I am a big proponent that students are not statistics. That each and every student in front of you and/or who walks by you in the halls has their own story, their own struggles and challenges, their own hopes and dreams. This might include a job, a less than ideal home life, social struggles with peers, etc. I always try to keep this in mind and remember that each student is their own person and that if their act is disrespectful or rude towards me that I am not the cause for the behavior, it is not directed at me personally.

I have found that it is often the little things, or at least I think they are little things, that go a long way with students. This can be as simple as asking how their day is going, or how their weekend was. It may also be remembering that they had a game, work or weren’t feeling well the day before and asking about it the next day. This makes students feel seen on an individual level, that they are not just a name, number or face in your eyes.

When students know you care about them personally, just not academically, they start to feel comfortable with you and that opens up to you as a trusted adult figure. When you have a positive rapport with students you gain a better idea what students strengths, weaknesses and true abilities are. I have found that oftentimes it’s not that students are not able to be successful (at a micro or macro level) it is that they do not believe that they can be successful. Once students know that you believe in them and get their buy-in, they start to believe in themselves and start to showcase what their true abilities are.”

Next I interviewed my English teacher, Ms. Sherri Brooks.

Ms. Brooks Ms. Brooks is my sole inspiration on why I want to become an English teacher. I am fortunate to have had her twice for class. She makes class fun, entertaining, and knowledgeable in the best way possible. Ms. Brooks is witty and just has this way to put everyone at ease, and her class is generally the class I look forward to the most. Ms. Brooks is a dedicated teacher who brings honesty and humor to a whole new level, you both know what to expect and not at the same time and it’s great.

Lilliana L.: “What made you decide to go into teaching?”

Ms. Brooks: “I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in elementary school, when I helped a friend understand a math problem. Seeing someone go from confusion and frustration to confidence and understanding is what inspired me then and continues to motivate me now.”

Lilliana L.: “ What makes you passionate about teaching?”

Ms. Brooks: “I love my content area. I have always been an avid reader for all the usual reasons. I also love analyzing and seeing what’s beyond the physical words on the page. Many times in English, there is not one correct answer. Time and individual perspective shape interpretation and analysis. Remember how I like to say, “All things are true if you can cite the text to prove it’?”

Lilliana L.: “How does your wit, humor, and sarcasm help bridge the gap between ordinary school experience and making it relatable and not a dreadful class to come to (for most students)?”

Ms. Brooks: “I don’t really know how to answer this one. Those are some of my personality traits, and I can only be grateful if there are certain aspects of me being me that make students enjoy the class. If not, hopefully they like the content.”

Finally I interviewed the person who inspired the topic for this news article, Mr. Sollitto.

Mr. Sollitto His passion for teaching and education is shown very clearly. If I took anything away from his classes it would definitely be the importance of voting and being financially smart . He shows his passion everyday by motivating students and working hard, not deterred from moody teenagers or bad days.

Lilliana L.: “What made you decide to go into teaching?”

Mr. Sollitto: “I originally wanted to major in business, but as I started taking classes, I felt very little connection to what I was learning. Then, my former elementary school teacher reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in tutoring a student who needed extra help. When I was in high school, I had been part of the cross-age tutoring club, where I tutored students at my old elementary school, so I was happy to help.”

Lilliana L.: “. What makes you passionate about teaching?”

Mr. Sollitto: “I’m very passionate about my profession, and I truly love teaching students. I enjoy helping them develop the skills they need to be successful in college and in the workplace. As a civics teacher, I also stress the importance of being an informed voter and a good, civically minded citizen. I want my students to leave my classroom not only with the knowledge they need to succeed but also with an understanding of how they can make a positive difference in their communities.”

Lilliana L.: “Why do you introduce yourself at the beginning of every class? How does it set and change the tone of your classroom?”

Mr. Sollitto: “I introduce myself by my full name every day for a few reasons. First, it helps students learn my name and makes sure they’re in the right class! It’s also a way to get their attention and signal that it’s time to get ready for class. Finally, it’s a little goofy and quirky, and when you work with teenagers, that can go a long way! I think those little routines help build relationships with students, create a welcoming atmosphere, and set a positive tone for the rest of the class.”

Each teacher had some event or person shape their life, each find meaning, love, and hope in teaching their students; watching them grow and get ready for the outside world. Each teacher gives a part of themselves to their students gladly, and those are the type of teachers that are shaping our tomorrow. Our future.

Toll Gate High School Educators Shaping Our Tomorrow

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