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By Hawie Abera, Jiya Amin, & Jessica Hsieh for Silver Quest
The classroom was abuzz as we entered, with students filling every corner of the room. We had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Ms. Carrie Gaffney, Blair Magnet’s new Statistics and Precalculus teacher, to learn a little more about her.
A Teacher at Heart
Ms. Gaffney’s educating experience runs in the blood, having grown up in a family of teachers in Long Island, New York. However, it was her love of numbers—sparked in high school—that brought her back to the classroom.
New Beginnings
Drawn to the nation’s capital, Ms. Gaffney came to DC to attend college, being the first in her family to move out of New York. Before Blair, Ms. Gaffney taught at James Hubert Blake High School for five years, Richard Montgomery for 13 years, and Pyle Middle School for four years, having experienced a wide variety of school environments and students. One fateful day, Ms. Gaffney stumbled upon an opportunity in Blair’s Magnet Program.
Upon arrival, Ms. Gaffney was struck by the Magnet Program’s strong emphasis on learning. It truly encouraged her to see that students have “this idea that we can learn and do hard things” and are ready to take on new challenges. Here, she has “rekindled her love for teaching.”
A Ray of Sunshine
Students in her classes contend that Ms. Gaffney is a unique and exciting addition to the Blair Magnet. In the classroom, Ms. Gaffney lifts students’ spirits with an upbeat personality. “She always comes to class with a smile on her face,” notes Keelin Pegg ‘25. Ms. Gaffney also has a very caring relationship with her students. One student complimented her ability to empathize with her students and tell when something is wrong.
Passions
Ms. Gaffney’s bright personality gives her a special ability to make “boring topics a little less boring and a lot more fun”. Beyond z-scores and derivatives, students also absorb valuable real-world insights. Olivia Guo ‘25, a student in Ms. Gaffney’s Senior Seminar in Statistical Research class, appreciates the effort she puts into “Financial Friday” lessons on “financial literacy, an essential life skill”.
Outside of the educational realm, Ms. Gaffney is a hardcore New England Patriots fan and loves to watch football. She also has a passion for gaming and immerses herself in new worlds and challenges. One of Ms. Gaffney’s hidden talents is singing. Well… not so secret, as she’s “always singing in front of everybody” and “plays music when we enter the room.”
All in all, Ms. Gaffney’s many talents, interests, and wealth of knowledge provide students with a wonderful learning environment, emerging as a strong asset to the Blair Magnet community.
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