First-Year Teacher Finds Her Place in the Classroom

The first day of school always drums up the same emotions. Excitement is typically high, followed by a tinge of nervousness. On September 1, Dianne Bacsik had those feelings as she walked through the halls at the Pierce Middle School.

Bacsik wasn't walking toward a locker to begin her day; the Boston College graduate was walking to the front of a classroom for the first time since earning degrees in elementary education and mathematics this May.

Bacsik was just hired this summer to teach Math Investigations, a supplementary math class, to seventh and eighth grade students. She teaches five classes of the course each day, in five different rooms, giving her a crash course in the building's layout.

Since, taking the position, Bacsik has been given plenty of opportunities to become a real part of the Pierce and MPS communities. First, she was given a mentor, which she met along with the other new teachers from Pierce and their mentors.

 Bacsik joined more than 20 teachers who are new to the district for a two-day orientation. The new educators to the district also met again before school started. The Hamilton NJ native has been very impressed with the support from the administration down to the teachers thus far.

Throughout the year, the new teachers will have at least two more chances to meet formally and talk about their experiences.

Bacsik said she has always been interested in becoming a teacher. Her career started quickly as she heard about an opening at Pierce from one of her Boston College professors who lives in the town.

Bacsik attended a summer open house that included on-the-spot interviews. After about three months of interviewing and waiting, Bacsik was a fulltime teacher.

"First, just knowing I had a job was one weight lifted, but knowing I had a job at the Milton Public Schools was a ton of weight lifted," Bacsik said.

During the interview process, Bacsik inquired about the district's special education program and inclusion policy. Special education has always been close to her heart as her older sister, Danielle, has a mental disability.

Bacsik said she was impressed with the district's policies.

"It's nice to know that I'm teaching in community that supports all learners," Bacsik said.

Over the last week and a half, Bacsik has already started to settle into her new environment. She's begun leaving a box of materials in each of the five classrooms she teaches from, making her travels smoother.

She's even signed up to help with the Pierce Players, the middle school's theater group.

As for her future, the first-year math teacher is currently applying to graduate school. She says as a long-term goal she may pursue administration, but for now she's happy being in front of the classroom.

"I want to teach for as long as possible," said Bacsik. "It feels natural for me to be here."