By MIA SHU and HALEY MUI
Determined to become a teacher ever since she was just a little girl, Ms. Celena Chin has made her way to teaching English at Jericho High School.
Initially, Ms. Chin was an introvert and often nervous while talking with others. However, her perspective changed when her elementary school English teacher broadened her social horizons by introducing her to the world of literature. “I feel like you always have that one teacher that opens you up a little bit more than the others do and connects with you on a deeper level,” she said.
Ms. Chin hopes to be just like that teacher for her students–kind, supportive and knowledgeable. “To have the relationship is really special, and I feel that is the most important part of teaching,” she said.
For her undergraduate degree, Ms. Chin attended SUNY Geneseo for 1 semester and then transferred to Binghamton University and majored in English with a concentration in education. She then went on to complete her master’s degree at Teachers College, Columbia University. Before Jericho, she taught at Nyack High School for 2 years.
Ms. Chin is a fairly new teacher, as this is her 3rd year of teaching. According to Curriculum Associate for English Language Arts Dr. Daniel Salzman, she was hired because of her caring and charismatic personality. Since Ms. Chin performed her student teaching at Jericho, Dr. Salzman knew her before employment. Regarding Ms. Chin’s success at Jericho, Dr. Salzman said, “The feedback overall has been very positive. I see her at school events, and I think she likes to be involved in students’ lives, especially in regards to the NEST program.”
Ms. Chin’s involvement with Jericho High School also includes her participation at Jericho’s homecoming which was a great opportunity for Ms. Chin to build stronger connections with her students.
When creating lesson plans, Ms. Chin always keeps in mind that everyone has different interests, so it’s important to create content that revolves around the students.
Ms. Chin incorporates art into her lessons by teaching her class how to make paper flowers in connection with literature they are reading.
Students shared positive sentiments regarding Ms. Chin’s teaching. Sophomore Isabella L. is one of the many students who appreciates Ms. Chin and learns well under her guidance. “I really like Ms. Chin. She’s really nice and teaches really well. I can actually pay attention in her class,” Isabella said.
Ms. Chin’s ability to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all her students makes here a great addition to the Jericho High School faculty.