Welcome To Niskayuna Ms. Glackin!

This year, Niskayuna High School welcomed a new face to the English Department. Joining Niskayuna is Ms. Glackin, an energetic and passionate first-year teacher who brings a love of storytelling, connection, and creativity to her classroom. 

For Ms. Glackin, the inspiration to become a teacher started early. “I had great teachers in high school who made a difference for me,” she explained. “I wanted to do the same thing for others.” She also found joy in teaching her younger cousins simple things and watching their faces light up when concepts clicked.

Her love for English grew from her upbringing in a storytelling family. “We were always telling stories, and I listened to a lot of audiobooks growing up,” she said. “It made me love stories and want to share that love with others.”

Her mom, who once dreamed of being a teacher herself, also influenced her. “She ended up going down a different path, but I feel like I’m doing something she always wanted to do,” Ms. Glackin shared.

Stepping into her first classroom has been a thrilling experience. “It’s really fun!” she said with a smile. “I loved decorating the room and meeting all the new students. Everyone has different personalities, it’s really exciting.”

One surprise though, has been how quickly she’s grown attached to her students. “I didn’t expect to care this much about everyone so fast,” she admitted. And like many new teachers, she’s still learning the layout of the building. “I get lost a lot,” she laughed. 

She looks forward to meeting new people, getting to know other teachers, and participating in school activities like the club fair and the pep rally. Ms. Glackin’s teaching philosophy centers around flexibility, humor, and personal connection within the classroom. “My approach [changes] for different kids,” she explained. “Everyone learns differently, and I try not to take myself too seriously. I like to be funny and relate to students.” She begins each class by talking with students about life beyond the classroom. “Life isn’t all about school,” she said. “Forming personal connections is important.” By the end of the year, she hopes her students will have gained at least one new skill, built confidence in English, and maybe even made English their favorite subject.

Although this is her first year teaching high school, Ms. Glackin is no stranger to Niskayuna. She previously worked at Iroquois Middle School and was eager to return to the district. “I loved everyone at Niskayuna,” she said. “I also really like the high school English curriculum.”

She’s felt welcomed by the entire community, especially the English Department. “Everyone has been so kind and helpful in showing me how things work,” she shared. 

What stands out to her about Niskayuna is the diversity of interests and personalities among the students, as well as the huge variety of clubs available. “The club fair was amazing! Everyone was so specific and passionate about their interests,” she said. 

If she had to describe her first week in one word, it would be “exciting.” And one fun fact that might surprise students? She’s a professional skier!

Welcome to Niskayuna, Ms. Glackin! We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm you’ll bring to the classroom.