What do you remember about your first day at OLSH?

“I remember being welcomed by all the teachers and students, and having fun playing a huge version of Jenga that included ice breaker questions in each of my classes. It was a nice way to learn students’ names and also some facts about them. I was definitely grateful that everyone was so kind and inviting on my first day.”

What is your favorite memory of OLSH so far?

“My favorite memory is definitely the Christmas Concert. It was very nice to have the opportunity to showcase all of the time and effort that was spent preparing music throughout the first semester. Each group performed beautifully, and it was a lot of fun.”

What inspired you to become a Teacher?

“My inspiration came from wanting to be able to share my love of music with others. I think it is a great way to express emotions, and be part of a group. Not only has it had an emotional effect on my life, but also spiritual, and I really wanted to bring that to others. Coming from an unstable home life, I knew that students like myself needed people that were trustworthy and caring, and I felt called to carry out that role.”

What sparked your interest in Music Education?

“My junior high and senior high choir teachers were both inspirations for me. They were very supportive and encouraging, and helped me to see the many ways that music could enrich my life. After taking choir in 7th grade, I began taking piano lessons from my choir teacher after school. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to pursue Music Education. Both of those teachers remained a huge part of my life through college, and are still part of my life to this day.”

What about your class do you think makes it so easy for students to connect with you?

“Well, opinions always vary, but in my classes, I strive to maintain a balance between having fun while also being structured. When I look back at high school and college, the classes that were the most worthwhile were the ones where I learned a lot because the standards were high. As I am still in my first year of teaching, there is a lot for me to learn, and part of that has been trying to balance being structured and maintaining high standards while also having fun.” 

Was it intimidating to have such big shoes to fill?

“Before starting at OLSH, I had no idea what to expect. It was not long before I learned that Mr. Pontiere was well loved by his students; it was not hard for me to see why, having met him on multiple occasions. Rather than seeing it as having shoes to fill, I feel that each person is called to forge his or her own path when starting a new job. From the first moment I started at OLSH, my goal has been to teach each student in my classes to the best of my ability. As I gain experience, I am learning what works best in each unique situation.”

What are some surprising things people might not know about you?

“For one, my first instrument was the accordion. I still play once in a while, but not as much any more. Growing up in an Italian household, it was sort of like a requirement. Along with that, my mother is from Italy, so she taught my sister and I to speak Italian at the same time as English. Much of my family is still in Italy, and when they come to visit, we speak only in Italian. My mother speaks to me in Italian a lot of the time as well.”

Why OLSH?

“I really love that OLSH has a strong Catholic identity and tradition. I think it is very important that we teach the moral and spiritual truths of the Catholic faith along with the standard academic courses. High school can be a challenging time for many students, so having regular exposure to Mass, eucharistic adoration, and prayer are all very important. It has been a blessing to see the many ways that students at OLSH embrace living out Catholic faith.”

How does faith play into your own life?

“I went through Catholic elementary school, and learned from the “Religious Teachers Filippini,” an order of Sisters modeled after Saint Lucy Filippini. I truly believe that my experience through those years formed my faith in many ways. I regularly enjoy participating at my parish church as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, cantor, altar server, and CCD teacher. I also help out as one of the team leaders for our recently formed high school youth group.”

What is your favorite thing to teach?

“My favorite course to teach is choir, because that is the class where I first developed my love for music, and is where I have the most experience. While at Duquesne, I had the privilege of being a member of their elite touring choir, Voices of Spirit. In that experience, I learned a lot about vocal singing techniques and musicianship as a whole. It is a lot of fun to take multiple voice sections, all learning different vocal parts, and put them together to create harmony. We have lots of talented singers at OLSH, and I feel that our choir has grown exponentially this year in terms of tone quality and knowledge of choral techniques. 

What is the funniest thing to happen in class to date?

“In one of my classes, the students really love sitting near their friends. We have assigned seats, which they don’t like. Well, one day, I stepped out of the classroom for just a moment to grab some papers, and when I stepped back in, they had all switched seats and were hoping I wouldn’t notice. That was pretty funny.”

How do you think you’ve changed as a teacher since you’ve started teaching?

“I feel like I have changed in multiple ways just since starting this past August. I am definitely learning what works best when handling a variety of situations, and I have also had to learn to adapt to the unexpected. In college, they prepare you in a sort of idealistic way, not taking into account how things can actually play out in real life. It has been great to learn and grow in how I approach teaching in all of my classes.”

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

““Don’t take the highs too high, or the lows too low.” It sounds very simple, but when you think about it, it is very true. Focusing too much on the things that are going really well can lead to arrogance, and focusing too much on the negative can lead to despair. I often have this saying in mind, and it really helps me to stay grounded in what is truly important.”

What do you do on summer breaks?

“One of my favorite things to do during the summer is visit family in New York City. My dad was originally from New York, so a lot of my family lives there. While I am there, I almost always go to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and see a Broadway show. When I am able, I love to visit Little Italy as well. One of the highlights from my last trip to New York was meeting celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich, and getting to take a picture with her.” 

After this, we had a speed round of questions.

Favorite color?

“Blue.”

Favorite song?

“We Shall Behold Him.”

Favorite place?

“New York City.”

Favorite singer?

“Josh Groban.”

Favorite holiday?

“Christmas!”

Favorite memory?

“College.”

Favorite restaurant?

“Ichiban.”

Thank you for reading Volume 5 of Teacher Talk, and thank you Mr. Tomasello for a great interview! See you next time!