How has education changed since the start of your careers?

McGrath: “I’ve been teaching for 20 years, starting in 2005, and noticed the change in social/emotional feelings in students since the start when no cellphones were in school. I feel Covid and the growth of iPhones were negative for students but allowed me to become a better teacher.”

Cordaro: “I started in 2010, and was concerned about the quality of content when switching to AI. It has quickly turned from helpful, to corroded student’s ability to learn. There is a constant goal in reaching out to kids, but unfortunately a divide due to technology growth in recent years.” 

In what ways do students and teachers make Haldane feel like a home?

Both: “Our first lesson together started as a conversation about “Clash of the Titans” and immediately there was an organic connection. All we were thinking was, if it’s easy on the first lesson, how will the rest of our careers together evolve?  It was so exciting combining class curriculums to be able to have engaging lessons.” 

McGrath: “Everybody is built up because of our collective goals. The staff all empower each other even by saying, ‘Don’t talk about my friend like that’ to negative self talk. There is a collective goal to help the students over everything else, making it easier when a peer gives advice through equally difficult teaching moments. It definitely helps being at Haldane because of the community, enabling us to get through to students easier.”

Cordaro: “Teachers have their own purpose, used as a compass to navigate how to teach. We don’t lose sight when it gets difficult because other teachers uplift each other, we all understand the ease of slipping into burnout. It’s always refreshing to be able to create and brainstorm with colleagues about topics that we share excitement about.”

What are some of your hobbies?

Both: “Needlepoint, telepathically communicating”

McGrath: “Murder Mystery podcasts, reading, football games, spending time away from the screen, and cooking”

Cordaro: “Asking Mrs. McGrath to catch up on shows, podcasts from Mrs. McGrath, sending Mrs. McGrath Instagram reels and Facebook shorts, crocheting, puzzling, and baking”

What do you want students to know about you that they don’t already? 

Both: “Over the course of our careers, we have shared a secret knock on the wall, paper fights, pranks, and Haldane lore (involving students) that shall never be named. Our dream for the future is to MC the academic awards, it will happen.”

McGrath: “I’m inclined to stay here late often because things are constantly changing. Because I work on adjusting to student learning, my goals are to help students to move out into the real world, past the school setting.”

Cordaro: “Everything goes into the lesson, all the love and hard work. The student sees the performance, but not the preparation.”