Kelsie Harris is a young teacher who teaches math in room 108. It’s very clear to me that Kelsie Harris is an amazing teacher with a true passion for education. She has only been a teacher here for a year but it’s very clear she's already made a positive impact on our school. When I asked Ms.Harris why she wanted to be a teacher she said “I always wanted to be a teacher, ever since I was little.” Ms.Harris almost was not a teacher though, she actually went to school for business. When I asked Mrs.Harris if her teaching has been affected by the pandemic, she told me that she was actually student teaching at the beginning of the pandemic so luckily it hasn’t affected her that much. Although, one thing she had to change is that she goes live for her remote students every day. When Ms.Harris became a teacher she had actually been in a classroom for twenty weeks already, so even though she has only been at Glenwood for one year she has lots of experience.

When I asked Mr.Smith how Ms.Harris was an asset to the school he said,”Miss Harris stepped into her math position at the beginning of this school year and has done a great job. She is organized, conscientious, and has a sincere desire to educate students in a classroom as well as on the basketball court. BGJHS is lucky to have Miss Harris as part of our exceptional staff.” In conclusion Ms. Harris is a great teacher and I’m very excited to see what she does in the future here at BGJHS. Remember to stop by and say hi to Miss Harris if you are passing by room 108.

Mrs. Wisbar is a brilliant eighth grade art teacher. Teaching over 300 eighth-grade students in room 128, Mrs. Wisbar has a passion for art. Her favorite activity to teach in class is either clay or stop motion animation. She is married with a daughter and two cats. Her high school art teacher inspired her to become an art teacher. While in college, she was determined to change her major; it just wasn’t for her. She later realized she would always draw in her spare time and that she loved teaching! She always thought you should always become what you do in your spare time. With this recognition, she decided to become an art teacher.

Mrs. Wisbar is originally from Pittsburgh. When she decided to go to YSU, she realized how much she loved Youngstown. She fell in love with Boardman Schools and decided to teach here. She loved the extreme amount of school Pride Boardman showed; she also loved how close knit our school community was. When she was younger, Mrs. Wisbar lived in a place like Boardman. Being in Boardman reminded her of an even better home. Mrs. Wisbar also loved how close shops were, especially since she loved shopping. Boardman Schools reminds her of family. Even when she wasn’t from Boardman, she was treated like she was. Teaching at Boardman was Mrs. Wisbar’s first full time job and she can also see herself retiring here.

If she would become anything else it would be a cosmetologist or nail technician, due to her current talents. Fortunately, in her seven years of teaching, she doesn’t regret becoming an art teacher. Her students are very thankful for both her and her jokes. Along with her students, Mr. Smith and Mrs. McCreery appreciate Mrs. Wisbar.

Although it may seem as if Mrs. Wisbar is only an art teacher, she isn’t! She’s a full time Mom, she exercises and reads. Her hidden talents include singing, nail designing, cosmetology, and dancing.

Mr. Smith believes, “ Mrs. Wisbar is a creative thinker that has brought outside-the-box ideas to BGJHS. Her art classes are innovative and in line with the 21st century. Mrs. Wisbar has obtained multiple grants to furnish her classroom with the most up-to-date technology in order to prepare students for their future. She is also highly involved with the school culture and student leadership. BGJHS is lucky to have Mrs. Wisbar as part of our family.” Mr. Smith could not have described her any better!

Covid-19 affected everyone differently. Mrs. Wisbar was affected by not being able to teach all of her students in person and having to teach four extra seventh-grade classes. Her solution to this was to create a live stream in which students attend daily. Mrs. Wisbar says it’s as if they are in the classroom with her! Unfortunately, it’s harder for her to show and demonstrate, which is her favorite way to teach. She misses going to student’s desks, speaking to them, and helping them; because of Covid-19, she must social distance. On the positive side, she enjoys being able to grade things online. She can grade assignments at home without having to take over 100 projects with her. The chance of her losing a project also decreases!

Although Covid-19 is a great challenge teachers face, it’s not the only challenge. Mrs. Wisbar believes teachers have many challenges and there can’t just be one. For example, they receive pressure from the state, parents, students, and more! They feel as if they must make learning fun and meaningful while making sure you learn what you need to. Although they face many challenges, Mrs. Wisbar thinks it’s worth it. She looks forward to seeing the faces of students light up when they understand something, or when a student expresses how much they love your class. She loves being recognized for what she’s teaching. No matter the challenge, Mrs. Wisbar loves being a teacher and nothing is more rewarding and perfect for her. Remember to stop by and say hi to Mrs. Wisbar if you are passing by room 128.

Miss Titi is one of our school's chorus teachers. She teaches students from fifth to eighth grade with her musical partner in crime, Mrs. Crist. Miss Titi is known to be one of the most favorite teachers through our seventh and eighth grade students and they recognize her as very understanding and fun to be around. One student says, “Miss Titi is a young, talented musician and teacher who wants to help our students learn and grow in the world of music.” when asked how they would describe her. I sat down with Miss Titi a little bit ago and asked a few questions so we could learn more about her personally and get the inside scoop on who she really is. Miss Titi says her family consists of her mom, her dad, and her sister who is 22 years old and currently attending school. Miss Titi has been a teacher for about three years now and when asked what she looks forward to the most when coming to school everyday she stated, “In a normal year it would be making music with the students, but this year it would be to share the love of music with the kids everyday and be able to teach them the ways of music.” She also says, “The most interesting thing about being a teacher here is a lot of the kids I meet through fifth and sixth grade, and watching them grow and mature to seventh and eighth graders while developing a relationship and a bond with them.” My personal opinion on Miss Titi is that she seems very dedicated to make her students happy and truly enjoys getting to share music with us everyday whether it’s getting to sing our warm up songs and preparing for concerts during normal times, or taking us through the decades and times of music genres during this time of covid. I’d like to say our principal, Mr. Smith agrees as well because when asked how Miss Titi is an asset to our school, he states, “Miss Titi is a talented music teacher. She has done an amazing job this year putting together an alternative vocal music class due to the restrictions of COVID. Miss Titi also works with our honors chorus and also spends time working with the high school vocal music program. BGJHS is very fortunate to have her as part of our Glenwood family.” Overall, Miss Titi is very loved here at BGJHS and we all can’t wait to see her learn and grow more and more as the years pass.

Mrs.Frost is an eighth grade science teacher here at BGJHS. Her room is located in the science hallway, room number 118. Mrs frost has been teaching for about seven years. Mrs. Frost is one of the most outgoing and funniest teachers here at BGJHS. I actually asked Mr.Smith why Mrs. Frost is an asset to the Boardman Schools. This is what he had to say, “ Love for education, passion for the world and the people that live in it. Life-long needs for learning are just a few things to captivate what Mrs. Frost is all about. BGJHS is more than lucky to have a person and educator like Mrs. Frost. She steps up to any challenge or any need that the school may have. In the classroom, she delivers enthusiastic real-world learning and outside of the classroom she heads up are student leadership, hope club, and yearbook. Mrs. Frost is an all-around exceptional individual, Boardman Glenwood is proud to have her as part of our family.” Many of Mrs. Frost’s students say that she makes the classroom fun and exciting. Also she teaches very well and makes learning more enjoyable by during partner or group activities and being able to go outside and learn. And most of all, her students love the friendly competitions that Mrs.Frost loves to put on. So, after all of this you probably think you know Mrs. Frost pretty well but I sat down with her and asked her some questions and here are responses.

Who are your family members (including pets)? I have a husband and his name is James and I have two cats. Their names are Jenny and Nelson.

What is your favorite part about being a teacher? The ability to make an impact on the world and through students.

Have you always wanted to be a teacher? No, in Kindergarten I wanted to be an ice cream driver and in middle school I wanted to be a fashion designer. Then in college I realized I wanted to be a teacher.

Have you taught any other subjects? If so, what was your favorite to teach? Nope, only science.

What is your favorite place you have traveled to? Baja, Mexico

What is your worst travel experience? Honestly I have none because the key when you travel is to go with little expectations.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? Hawaii or Iceland because of the awesome place tectonic in Iceland and the hot spot activities in Hawaii.

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time? I love to go on hikes, read books and do yoga

Those of some of the wonderful new things I found out about Mrs.Frost. I think Mrs.Frost has had an impact on all of her students' lives and she will never be forgotten. I would like to thank Mrs.Frost for being such a wonderful teacher and for taking the time out of her day to answer these questions. So, remember to stop by and say, “hi”, if you are passing by room 118.

Mrs. Herman is a Math teacher. She teaches her eighth grade class in room 107, and has been teaching for thirteen years. Numerous students and staff appreciate all that she does. Mr. Smith even says that, “Mrs. Herman is a dedicated teacher. She was moved from teaching science for the last several years to teaching math during the 2020- 2021 school year. Mrs. Herman has seamlessly transitioned and is doing wonderful work with our students at BGJHS. She is always looking to better herself and her classroom to provide for her students. We are lucky to have Mrs. Herman at BGJHS.” In addition, Marissa Funk, one of her students, says that Mrs. Herman is very polite and understanding. So today, I sat down with her to get to know her a little better.

1. Which subject do you like to teach better, math or science? Why? Math because I’ve always liked numbers, and math makes more sense. There are a lot of gray areas in science, whereas math is more clear and straightforward.

2. What made you choose a teaching career? A love for teaching from a young age. I always used to play school with my stuffed animals when I was little. Also, a love for making a difference in people’s lives, and helping them become successful.

3. What is your favorite topic in math and why? Geometry because it is very visual, and I am a visual learner. It makes more sense.

4. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be and why? An accountant because it involves lots of numbers and math.

5. What are some hobbies you enjoy doing in your free time? Spending time with family, shopping, reading, golfing, and photography.

6. What is your favorite part about teaching and why? Spending time with the kids because, as a teacher, you get to know your students, their personalities, and their interests. Every day is different, and you never know what will happen.

7. What is/are your favorite song (s)? The Good Stuff by Kenny Chesney

8. What is something about you that others may not know? I’m certified to teach yoga.

9. What is something that you really want to do someday? Travel to Hawaii.

10. What is your favorite animal and why? A dog because they are always there for you no matter what. They become a part of your family.

As you can see, Mrs. Herman is an outstanding teacher who definitely will leave long-lasting impacts on students’ lives. We thank her for taking time out of her day to sit down with us to conduct this interview. Remember to stop by and say ‘hi’ to Mrs. Herman if you are passing by room 107.

Mrs.Chamness is a 7th grade math teacher here at BGJHS. Her classroom is room 205. Mrs.Chamness has been working here at BGJHS for about 10 years. She started teaching when she was 22 years old. She lives with her husband Shawn and her daughter Kinley. She wanted to work here at BGJHS because of their education reputation. Before she worked here at BGJHS, she worked at a daycare. The most frustrating thing, Mrs.Chamness said, about being a teacher is when she sees students who don’t work at their full potential. On the first day of school she gets her classroom ready by putting up posters, her bulletin boards, pictures, and advice from her previous students. One of her strengths as a teacher is to act funny and work at her full potential, so that her students will. She motivates her students by trying to make it enjoyable and motivate them to learn. In 10 years, Mrs. Chamness still sees herself working at BGJHS teaching math. Mrs.Chamness says we only teach math in school because you use it all the time even when you don’t think you do. Besides math Mrs.Chamness likes English. Mr. Smith says, “Mrs. Chamness is a dedicated math teacher that is highly structured and rigorous with the math curriculum. However, she is also very passionate about building a positive rapport with students. She is a phenomenal teacher that encourages her students to achieve their best on a daily basis. BGJHS is lucky to have Mrs. Chamness as part of our family.” These are the wonderful things I learned about Mrs.Chamness in less than 1+2+3. Remember to stop by and say ‘hi’ to Mrs. Chamness if you are passing by room 205.

Mr. Sheldone is an Art teacher here at BGJHS. His room is located down the gym room hallway across from the courtyard, room number 131. This year will be the mark of teaching Art for seven years for Mr. Sheldone. Mr. Sheldone is one of the most creative teachers here at BGJHS. I asked Mr. Smith why Mr. Sheldone is an asset to the Boardman schools and this is what he had to say, “Mr. Sheldone is the Bob Ross of Glenwood. He encourages the students in his classes and the Beautification Club to express our positive school culture through art. Mr. Sheldone is progressive in his teaching by using 21st-century learning platforms to make sure our students are prepared for their adult lives. BGJHS is lucky to have Mr. Sheldone as a 7th-grade art teacher.” I also asked some of his students what they thought of him and this is what they had to say, “Mr Sheldone is an amazing teacher and makes art so much more enjoyable. He lets us show our creativity and teaches us many new techniques.” So, as you can see Mr. Sheldone is pretty awesome and that's not all, I actually got to sit down with him and ask him some questions and here are his responses.

Family members (including pets): I have my Grandma, my parents, and my dog and cat whose names are Bridgeit and Harley.

What is your favorite art project to do with your class? When we start doing 3d, I love this first one we do. It is abstract, and we do shading and turn it into 3d like.

When did you first start loving art? In high school, it was something that came natural like how someone can pick up an instrument and just start playing and I picked up a pencil and just started drawing.

If you could teach any other subject what would it be? History

Do you hold any clubs for the boardman schools? If so which one(s)? Used too, it is a Beautification Club.

What is the coolest piece of art you have ever done? It is Digital art and it is my megazord. (Picture at top)

Is there anything else you love to do beside Art? I enjoy drawing, and going to conventions. I get to show my work and my talent there. My favorite convent was the buckeye con con in Cleveland. I have only been to two and I am also going to the steel city convention.

What are your favorite hobbies? I love drawing and playing video games, especially my new PS5.

What is your favorite part apart from being a teacher? Having fun during the projects with students, and I like the freedom of doing whatever I want with the projects, and problem solving.

Those of some of the amazing things I found out about Mr. Sheldone. Overall Mr. Sheldone has put a huge impact on all of his students, he has taught them a new world of art that they will never forget. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Sheldon for taking time out of his day to do this interview and for being such an amazing teacher. So, remember to stop by and say, “hi”, if you are passing by room 131.

Mr.Brooks is a 7th grade history teacher, you can find him in room 112. He has been teaching for 6 years, but only 3 years as a history teacher. He lives with his fiance (they are getting married in June.), his mom , his dad, and his parents dog, a yorkshire terrier, Layla. He enjoys being a teacher because he likes making contact with students and reading stories and explaining them. His favorite history lesson to teach is Sparta because we are the Spartans. In Mr.Brooks free time he likes watching movies, working out, when he works out he likes to push himself and push away stress. Mr.Brooks definitely thinks working with Google Classroom is a lot harder than being in the classroom. His favorite place to travel to is Hawaii. He has also taught science and math in the same year, he was an in school suspension teacher for a while. Mr.Brooks’s favorite color is blue, His favorite animals are dogs and lions. His favorite food is steak. His favorite football team is the eagles and in baseball his favorite team is the Indians. His favorite sport is swimming. If Mr.Brooks had a free traveling ticket he would travel to Ireland because his mom was from there, and he wants to learn her heritage.

Mr. Colla is one of the teachers at BGJHS. Mr. Colla is the in school suspension supervisor for 7th and 8th graders, when they get into trouble. Mr. Colla is known to be one of the most favorite teachers throughout 7th and 8th graders. Even if you have never been in in-school suspension, you probably still know Mr. Colla. He is the 8th grade girls basketball coach, freshman football coach, and the 7th and 8th grade jumping coach for track and field. He is a really likeable and really easy person to get along with. His “classroom” is in the pit, and he has been teaching for 20 years. His current family consists of his wife, his two step kids, Jimmy and Jenna, his two kids, Lia and Nick, and a dog, Maggie. I asked a few of the students who have been in Mr. Colla’s class for whatever reason, or have been coached by him, and a few of them said, “He is really funny and likes to joke around with us, especially if they know our families.” and another student said, “Mr. Colla is a funny person and makes being practice a little more fun.” I also asked one of our 8th grade history teachers, and Mr. Colla’s partner in crime, Mr. Carnevale, to describe what it’s like coaching with Mr. Colla since Mr. Carnevale is the 8th grade girls basketball coach, and coached football with him as well. Mr. Carnevale says, “I have known Mr. Colla for almost 20 years now and coaching alongside him with both BGJHS football and girls basketball. In both sports, he has proven not only to be dependable, but incredibly knowledgeable. He sees what’s happening in a game right away and is terrific at making adjustments. He treats our student-athletes with respect and I think they truly enjoy playing for him. As a friend, Mr. Colla is always happy and in a great mood. We have great discussions about sports, of course, but also a variety of other topics as well. I know that if I ever needed help with anything, he would always be there to do whatever he could to help me. You can’t ask for much more of a friend than that.” I had also asked Mrs. McCreery, our assistant principal, as to why Mr. Colla is an asset to Boardman Schools and she said, “Mr. Colla is a team player. He is available to help students and staff however he may be needed on any given day. He has the ability to find the positive in all situations. He is patient and nurturing with all of the students he works with. He is right for the job he has.” I personally believe Mr. Colla is a great guy, and if you ever have a chance, you should get to know him.

Mrs. Barborak is an 8th grade history teacher. I am here today to explain to you more about this wonderful teacher. She has a fantastic family that consists of her husband of 18 years, Nick, and her two kids, Abby and Audrey. Mrs. Barborak also has two furry best friends, Leo and Livy, both chocolate labs. In school, Mrs. Barborak is always there to help her students and she has so many great qualities. In room 101, Mrs. Barborak shares her amazing knowledge. She has been teaching for 23 years. Throughout those 23 years her favorite thing to teach about is Hamilton and she has her students write rap battles. This year, because of the pandemic she wasn’t able to force her students to rap. She said that she was really sad about that, but she also believes her students were happy that they didn't have to stand up and read their rap battles. She is a JO volleyball coach and loves to swim and travel with her family. She is always willing to drive her kids around to all of their activities. As she likes to say she is a taxi for her kids. Mrs. Barborak is a great teacher and role model and she would like to let her students know that, “ All of my students have been wonderful this year although it has been a challenge and I am looking forward to watching all of my students' successes in the future."

Mr. Basista is an 8th grade ELA teacher who teaches in room 102. He has taught for twenty years. He started in 7th-grade Reading and English, and he moved onto 7th-grade history for eleven or twelve years. He started teaching 8th grade ELA this school year. Mr. Basista is happily married to Mrs. Basista who teaches 10th grade English at the Boardman Highschool. He has one son (Noah) and one daughter (Julia). Noah just finished his first ear at Bucknell University in Lewisburg PA. He is majoring in civil engineering and is on the college swim team. Julia just finished her sophomore year and she is a spartan sweetheart in the marching band. She also is a member of the Boardman Spartans swim and dive team.

Mr. Basista adores teaching 8th grade ELA. He says his favorite part about it is that he enjoys interacting with the students and getting to know them on another level. His compassion for the students is clearly noticeable because the students feel the same way in return. One of Mr. Basista’s students, Mason Nawrocki says, “He gets through what we need to cover in a year and always makes sure we are prepared for every test and quiz.” Although Mr. Basista enjoys teaching ELA, he has not always desired to become an English teacher. Originally he wanted to work in business but didn’t feel as though he was making a difference or positive impact in other people’s lives. He decided to start teaching and coaching, he says that is the best decision he has ever made. Mr. Basista has gotten involved in coaching many school sports along with his teaching career. Many students and BGJHS staff think he is a wonderful teacher, so I thought everybody would want to learn a little more about him. I asked Mr. Basista a series of interesting questions that his students would like to know about him.

How old are you?

Mr. Basista is 48 years old.

Do you have any side jobs or hobbies?

Mr. Basista loves to golf, and spend time with his family. He enjoys coaching his kid’s sports teams.

Do you like sports? If so, which sports are your favorite?

He loves and has always loved sports. His ultimate favorite sport is football. His son Noah swims so that has become his second favorite sport. He is also getting back into playing golf as a hobby.

Did you play any high school sports? If so, did you enjoy them?

He played Boardman football, basketball, and baseball. He really enjoyed playing them and getting to know all of his teammates. Something not many people know about Mr. Basista is that he was in the hall of fame for Boardman football. He had the school record for the most interceptions for many years.

What is your favorite sport to coach?

His favorite sport to coach is Cross Country. They have had lots of success. It’s a smaller team, so they get to do a lot of fun activities. He loves that everybody is important and they all have their own individual place in the team.

As you can see, Mr. Basista has a strong passion for the Boardman schools. He is so dedicated to his work and always tries to make the biggest positive impact he can on each of his students. I have been a student of Mr. Basista for two years in a row. My first year having Mr. Basista as a teacher was in 7th grade history. I was lucky enough to get him again this year as an 8th grade ELA teacher. I can say, from experience, that Mr. Basista is a fantastic teacher.

“Teaching helped me find my way.” - Mr. Basista