Teacher Feature: Ms. Pilney
Story by Serena Schmidt
"From a young age, I felt like I could help others become better learners," said sixth grade teacher Ms. Vanessa Pilney, soon to be Mrs. Vanessa Siegfried. "As a student, I would always be asked to help other students, tutor them, and help them understand what we were learning. I kept hearing, 'you should be a teacher' and I realized how much I liked it."
The end of this school year will be her second year of teaching and inspiring students in her classroom. Inside her sixth grade classroom at Hilltop, her students are learning how to dance to the song "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. They are also using technology throughout the day such as starting a new online math program called "Front Row".
One of the things she likes most about teaching is seeing changes in her students. "I like seeing my students grow both academically and socially. Knowing that I played some small part in this process makes me feel that I've accomplished a lot," said Pilney. Some of her favorite moments as a teacher is when former students come back and let her know how much she has impacted their lives.
"I want to help me students grow into successful young adults who are going to do well in the world," she added.
When not a school, she likes to visit new places with her fiancé, Michael Siegfried. She also likes to take her dog, Dobby, to different outdoor places like dog beaches and hiking trails.
Story by Serena Schmidt
"From a young age, I felt like I could help others become better learners," said sixth grade teacher Ms. Vanessa Pilney, soon to be Mrs. Vanessa Siegfried. "As a student, I would always be asked to help other students, tutor them, and help them understand what we were learning. I kept hearing, 'you should be a teacher' and I realized how much I liked it."
The end of this school year will be her second year of teaching and inspiring students in her classroom. Inside her sixth grade classroom at Hilltop, her students are learning how to dance to the song "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. They are also using technology throughout the day such as starting a new online math program called "Front Row".
One of the things she likes most about teaching is seeing changes in her students. "I like seeing my students grow both academically and socially. Knowing that I played some small part in this process makes me feel that I've accomplished a lot," said Pilney. Some of her favorite moments as a teacher is when former students come back and let her know how much she has impacted their lives.
"I want to help me students grow into successful young adults who are going to do well in the world," she added.
When not a school, she likes to visit new places with her fiancé, Michael Siegfried. She also likes to take her dog, Dobby, to different outdoor places like dog beaches and hiking trails.