French (All Grades)

By: Sharanya Vaidianathan

Q: Why did you choose to teach this subject?

A: There was no grand plan which culminated in a decision. I liked working with kids; I had done many summer camps while I was in college. Then I spent half of my junior year abroad and fell in love with southern France. When I came back to the states, I switched my college major from history to French. And then from there things just snowballed : spent a year in France teaching English to high schoolers and then when I came back to the states I found a job far from my home in Philly teaching French to high schoolers in western Massachusetts. And then before I knew it, I was in Bedford teaching middle schoolers French!

Q: If you weren’t a teacher, what is your dream job? Why?

A: I’d be general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Because I am a lifelong fan and anyone could have been better than the last two General Managers the team has had on their payroll. Also, the book “Moneyball” by Micahel Lewis left a big impression on me.

Q: Where did you grow up? How did that influence you?

A: Right outside Philadelphia. I’m a huge sports fan. And their sports teams have seen many more unfortunate years than fortunate (unlike Boston teams of recent). I guess it’s given me some patience? I don’t know, it better have given me something!

Q: What do you think are the most important qualities in friendships? Why?

A: Humor - because I like to laugh and have a good time! Honesty - because I want to maintain relationships with people who I truly know.

Q: Do you have the same relationships with your siblings/family members, as you did in middle school? What do you think is different?

A: No way! My sister and I did. Not. get. Along when I was in middle school. She is 4 years older and at the time I couldn’t possibly have been more of an inconvenience to her existence. We started to get along when she went to college. Go figure! I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a teacher? Why did you decide you wanted to be a teacher?

A: Again, there was no decision. I guess if I had to choose, it was the moment I came home from France and I said to myself “yeah… I guess I could keep teaching. Kids are fun and they’re far more relatable than older people.”

Q: What was your favorite grade? Why?

A: 7th and 9th grade. I made a transition to a new school in 7th grade which was very exciting. Made a lot of new friends, some of whom I’m still friends with to this day. 9th grade for the change to high school. I loved the sense of freedom I had (imagine having a “free block” where you didn’t have to be in anyone’s classroom!)

Q: Was being a science teacher for sixth grade your top choice job? If yes, why? If not, what was your top choice job?

A: I knew I wanted to do teaching, and knew I wanted to do something in either Math or Science. I did not know I was going to do 6th grade. I wanted to work with students in Middle School.

Q: Do you have any pets? If yes, describe their age, looks and how many you have. If not, if you could have any number of pets how many and what type of pets would you get? 

A: I have a lab/hound mix named Theo! He’s 9 years old but still acts like an energetic puppy.

Q: Are you married or planning to get married soon? Do you have any kids?

A: I have no kids. I am engaged currently, and I’m planning to get married next year. 

Q: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life what food would it be?

A: This is tough, but I’m going with chicken, rice and beans. It has a variety of styles and is both delicious and nutritious!

Q: If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?

A: Probably an Otter, because they’re energetic and also love to hang in groups. I also have a lot of energy and hold ‘my people’ such as family/friends/community as a critical aspect of my life. 

Q: How many square feet of pizza do you think are eaten in the U.S. each year?

A: 10 million, I'd say! Who doesn’t love pizza?

Q: If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?

A: A guitar (because my iPod will run out of battery) and a book on how to escape a deserted island. 

Q: If you had a choice between two superpowers, being invisible or flying, which would you choose?

A: Invisible, because I can easily go wherever I want. And I’m afraid of heights. 

Q: What book are you currently reading? How would you rate it?

A: I am currently reading “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” It’s pretty great so far, and there are some movies based on it. So far, a 9/10.

Q: What's a hidden talent you have? If you don't have one, what's one talent you wish you had but you don't?

A: I can do pretty good impersonations of famous people. It can take a lot of practice, however. 

8th Grade Civics (Green)

By: Anjie Chen

Q: Why did you choose to be a teacher?

A: I come from a long line of teachers, both my parents were teachers as were a lot of my uncles and aunts, it's sort of our family business! So I grew up with schools being a big part of my life. 

Q: If you weren’t a teacher, what would be your dream job?

A: When I was in College and Grad School I worked a lot in athletics and event management . I was a Grad Assistant at Boston College Athletics and I got to work for the World Cup when it was in Boston in the mid 1990’s, so probably something like that. I love sports!

Q: What was your favorite subject in school?

A: Social Studies of course! Really from an early age it was always my favorite class. I majored in History in College.

Q: What is your favorite grade in middle school?

A: I went to a junior high school that was grades 7-9...so probably Grade 9. I remember not loving 8th Grade which is ironic because I've spent the last 27 years teaching that level!

Q: What are you excited about this school year?

A: I’m just so glad that we are back in person. Last year was a tough year for everybody. I hated teaching over Zoom and missed the day to day interactions with the students. My class had a lot of discussion and that was very difficult to do over zoom. It's nice to have the energy back in the building again. 

Q: Do you have any outside of school hobbies?

A: I have 3 kids who all play sports and are active, so they take up a lot of my time. I enjoy watching sports and I coach Boys Basketball at North Reading High School so I’m pretty busy outside of school.

Q: Do you have any advice for students that are affected by last year's remote learning?

A: Get off your devices and reconnect with people. Join a club or a team and become part of the community. School and life are more fun when you feel like you are connected. 

6th Grade Advanced, 7th Grade (Navy)

By: Veda Keny

As many of you might know Mrs. Goodhue is the 6th-grade and 7th-grade Math and Pre-Algebra teacher. She became a teacher because she really enjoys working with students and thinks middle school math is a really fun subject. She also thinks that middle school students are fun to be around. Mrs. Goodhue got her Bachelors at Babson College and she got Masters at Bowling Green State University. She worked a few places prior to JGMS. She said, “I had my own tutoring business for 13 years and focused mostly on SAT prep. Prior to that I was a college administrator and the last college I worked at was Simmons College,”. She said she liked math so much because, unlike English, She always knew when She was finished with her HW. She loves to read but writing essays seemed never-ending to her! Math was the opposite for her. If Mrs. Goodhue wasn’t a math teacher then she would have been either a food critic, movie critic, book critic, or all three. When she has free time she likes to walk her dog, run, travel, do puzzles, go out to eat with friends. She has been working at a JGMS since 2012. She has three sons, the older two are out of college, and none of them currently attend JGMS. Mrs. Goodhue is known to give extra credit to anyone who ends up with a textbook any of her sons used. Fun fact if Mrs. Goodhue had to choose between Algebra or Geometry she would choose using Algebra to solve Geometry questions.