Teacher Spotlight

Mrs. Falcone

by, Simar Grover

• What is your favorite food?

Steak.

• How long have you been teaching?

4 years.

• How long have you been teaching in Plainview?

2 years.

• Where is your favorite place to be?

At my upstate house.

• Did you teach any other grades besides 6th grade?

I have taught 2nd and 5th grade.

• Where were you born?

Brooklyn.

• Did you teach any other subjects besides ELA and Social Studies?

I have taught all subjects.

• What is your favorite subject to teach?

My favorite subject to teach is Social Studies because I love to learn about what happened in the past.

• Do you have any pets?

I have a mini Bernedoodle named Chesney.

• What are your hobbies?

Yoga, watching Islanders, reading, and spending time with family.

• Why did you pick teaching as a career?

I always looked up to teachers. I loved to play teacher too when I was younger.

• What is your favorite childhood memory?

When I was on my dad’s boat, watching the sunset.  

Mrs. Tuthill

by, Leslie Yoon

• “How long have you been a teacher?”

This is my seventeenth year teaching. I’ve taught kindergarten, fourth grade, fifth grade, and sixth grade. 

• “What’s your favorite part about being in POBMS?”

My favorite part is getting to spend my day with almost 50 different students and I get to learn all about them for the entire year. 

• “Why did you join as a teacher?”

Since I was in second grade I always wanted to be a teacher and I used to play school at home with my chalkboard and stuffed animals and make my own attendance roster. I really enjoyed elementary school and so many of my teachers inspired me to be a teacher.

• “What’s your favorite food?”

Sushi, buffalo wings, and taco bell.

• “What’s your favorite color?”

Light blue

• “What makes a good day at school?”

A good day would be an opportunity where students learn something new but also have fun doing it. My goal is for both learning and laughter to happen.

• “What are some traditions or superstitions you have for the First Day of school?”

I like to set up a day where kids move around the room and learn about each other and hopefully end up saying that they had a great first day. I’m probably as nervous on the first day of school as a student is.

• “What is one of your hidden talents?”

I’m really good at direction awareness, most of the time! I usually always know where I am and I can find my way around a place I’ve never been before. My family and friends usually rely on me for directions. 

• “If you won the lottery would you give up teaching? If so, what would you buy first?”

I’m not quite sure because I really like to teach but it would also be really fun to enjoy family time. I would definitely buy a few beach houses in different places of the world. 

• “What differences do you see between the classes in the morning versus the afternoon classes?

Sometimes, I see that during morning classes students are very focused and can get a lot of work done and be very productive. I’m very happy to teach ELA in the morning. In the afternoon Social Studies is the perfect fit for students because even if they are tired after eating we can learn fascinating information about ancient civilizations in fun ways.

• “What is your first memory in school?”

My first memory in school was in Pre K when we read a story on the carpet and the teacher told us to look out the window and they surprised us with a pumpkin patch.

I also remember a special performance of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” we put on for our parents, too! 

• “How do you remember all your student’s names?”

This is a very hard job that they don’t teach you in school or college. During the first week of school I tried to quiz myself and go around the room and say everyone’s name until I got it right. 

• “Do you have any concerns about the grading policy or the graded assessments?

I feel like teachers and the district dedicate time and meetings to carefully consider grades and always look for student input. I don’t have any concerns. 

• “What is your favorite unit that you teach?”

My favorite ELA unit is social issues book clubs. My favorite Social Studies unit would have to be ancient Greece and the Olympic inquiry. 

• “What do you enjoy about your job?”

It could be very rewarding when you see how far students come from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

• “What are you thankful for?” 

I’m thankful for my family and good health. 

• “Are you a cat or a dog person?”

Dog because I have two dogs, a golden doodle named Hudson and a mini cockapoo named Finn.

• “What is your favorite subject?”

ELA

• “Are you a sweet or sour person?”

Sweet, I like candy and chocolate.

• “If you could go back in time, what would you tell or stop your younger self from doing?”

I would tell myself to continue to jog and exercise so that you could be in shape even as you get older.

• “Are you an extrovert or an introvert?”

I’m definitely an introvert, although I talk to kids all day, I’m generally a shy person.

• “What is your favorite book genre?”

Realistic Fiction

• “Who or what inspired you to be a teacher?”

I enjoyed my elementary school teachers and I had an awesome sixth grade science teacher named Mrs. Fleming who made me want to become a marine biologist but also a teacher at the same time because she was so great. 

• “What is a proud teacher moment of yours?”

When a student asks if we are going to have independent reading time and when I reply yes, they get super excited. It makes me happy to see their excitement. 

• “How would your younger self react if you told them you would grow up to be a teacher?”

My younger self should be proud because I wanted to be a teacher and I reached a personal goal in life.

• “Do you believe in second chances?”

Of course, everyone deserves the opportunity to make an improvement to reach a goal.

• “What is your definition of success?”

Setting a goal and achieving it even if you have to make an adjustment.

• “If you could relive any day in the past, what day would you pick?”

It would be my wedding because it was a day spent with the people that I’m close with and the people I love and it was the start to my future my family.