She made friends, practiced yoga, and played ultimate frisbee. She also gained confidence in herself and her abilities. Just over ten years later, she returned as a resident teacher, soaking up all the knowledge her mentors - who were once her own teachers - could provide. Now, as she readies herself for a move to New York and a new teaching job, Rosie shares about her love of teaching, her personal passions, and her most influential experiences.

ON HER TEACHING STYLE:
Returning to HRS as a resident teacher just made sense to Rosie. She wanted to better understand the Slingerland method and learn how to create the consistent structure for her students she enjoyed as an HRS student herself. But structure is just one part of the classroom.

Rosie has a soft spot for teaching third grade and loves to see the students’ individual personalities coming out. In her experience, they’re also excited to have conversations with her. As someone who once considered a career in science, she’s particularly invested in her science lesson plans. Rosie strives to make them as hands-on as possible, with a focus on learning through experimentation.

ON THE IMPACT OF HRS:
A longtime teacher of HRS, Mrs. Massoth stands out as Rosie’s most influential teacher. She was the one who helped Rosie feel like she wasn’t alone, and gave her confidence in herself for the very first time.

That support was essential as Rosie continued with her education, transitioning smoothly to high school and then facing some challenges as she entered college. Rosie’s confidence helped her deal with the roadblocks she faced when some college professors didn’t understand the accommodations she needed to be successful with her dyslexia. It helped her to be an advocate for herself, to educate her professors, and to ensure she would successfully finish her college degree.

Having experienced the support of HRS and seen the benefits for herself, giving back to the school is something Rosie believes is important, not just personally, but for the wider school community.

Financial support allows HRS to grow, and in turn, provides room for even more students to learn how to navigate their own learning style and accomplish their own goals. “As a former student and staff member, I have seen the tremendous impact HRS has had on the lives of students and their families, it is a cause I truly believe in,” Rosie noted.

ON HER HIDDEN TALENTS + FAVORITE PASTIMES:
When she’s not in a classroom, Rosie turns her creativity to her photography, a subject she grew to love and devote more of her time to starting in high school. While she focuses mainly on landscapes (a few of which were published in a calendar to fundraise for cancer research), she’s challenging herself to take on new subjects with portraits.

She’s also trying new things with her reading. While there are always favorites, Rosie has recently been getting absorbed into historical fiction and mysteries, thanks to an online subscription, Book of the Month. Just like in life, a new book offers a new opportunity, with a new adventure just waiting to be explored.