Caroline Knightly
Features Editor
@knightlycourant
Each year, new students enroll in NCHS with the fear of fitting in and figuring out a foreign social environment. Like students, new teachers experience the same angst walking into the first day of school. Fortunately, for some teachers, the transition ended up being easy and enjoyable.
For English teacher Gabriela Deambrosio, being able to teach at NCHS is a goal she always hoped to accomplish. “Working at NCHS has really been a dream come true,” she said. “I am so supported by my fellow English department teachers and the administration.”
Ms. Deambrosio finds the transition into the school district easy due to the endless support from her fellow colleagues. “Everyone has bent over backwards to help me in so many ways and I’m very grateful,” she said. “That is something that you don’t usually find at other schools.”
Chemistry teacher Jeffery Brenston wasn’t surprised by academic reputation of NCHS before he started in August, however, he has learned many new things from his experiences. “The school has a good record as far as academics and as soon as I met the people and the students, I knew I really wanted to work here,” he said. “New Canaan High School has a really good group of people, including the staff, administration, and the students.”
With engaging course work in the classroom, Ms. Deambrosio has learned more about students as individuals as well as what she’s capable of herself. “I’m able to explore challenging topics and really rigorous content with my students in a way that I wouldn’t be able to in another district,” she said.
While admiring her new position and peers, Ms. Deambrosio hopes to follow the footsteps of the many other teachers in the English Department. “In the future, I hope that I can be a fragment of the teachers that are at the high school,” she said.
Kimanne Core is a recent addition to the art department and enjoys the variety of welcoming personalities at NCHS. “I have a number of amazing faculty that I’m working with,” she said. “I enjoy the students excitement and enthusiasm about the varied classes.”
Mr. Brenston joined the science department this year to find that his new NCHS students were ready to learn. “I think a lot of the kids here at NCHS are very serious about their education, and that’s refreshing as a teacher,” he said.
Mr. Brenston feels relieved to know that his students handle their free periods in the rotating schedule well by using them to their academic advantage. “One of the really cool things about NCHS is that the kids can deal with the open schedule that we have,” he said. “I can trust that my students are going to be at certain places and do certain things to help them in the future.”
Ms. Core entered the high school with some goals of her own. “I hope to learn and continue to grow as a teacher and share it with my students,” Ms. Core said. “I eventually hope to offer advancement placement drawing and expand the art program.”
All three teachers are excited about the opportunities for engagement with their peers and students. “I know this is a wonderful school system to grow and develop in as a new teacher,” Ms. Core said.
