Suzette Gorman has a love for math, science and social studies, but a passion for teaching
This story is the first in a series by The Mantua Sun profiling the teachers recognized as the 2017–18 Teachers of the Year.
Suzette Gorman, a math, science and social studies fifth-grade teacher at J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School, decided to dedicate her time to teaching children. In 2009, Gorman graduated from Rowan University with a degree in education and a minor in health and exercise science.
Now in her seventh year in the Mantua district, she is the J. Mason Tomlin 2017–2018 Teacher of the Year.
What Gorman thought to be the end of a school day turned out to be a day she will never forget.
“Superintendent Dr. Fisicaro, Principal Mr. Miles, Vice Principal Mrs. Shorter, Board of Education President Mrs. Nuss and Head of Curriculum and Technology Mrs. Labbree, all came into my classroom at the end of the day. They presented me with the award in front of all my students. It was a huge surprise, and I am so happy my students were there,” Gorman said.
Gorman worked her way up in the Mantua School District beginning as a long-term substitute for several years, then she taught fourth grade and eventually landed in her fifth-grade classroom. Before entering the Mantua district, Gorman worked at Shady Lane Child Care Development Center.
Teaching is something Gorman has wanted to do ever since she can remember. She started practicing for her roll when she was the age of her current students.
“When I was younger, I would always love going to the teachers and getting supplies to pretend I was a teacher myself. I had great teachers who inspired me when I was growing up, and I hope to be able to do the same for my students.”
Gorman emphasized her intention is not just teach her students the information in the textbook, but to help them apply their education to the world outside of the school’s walls.
“I would have to say that my favorite things to teach to my students are projects that relate to the real world. Having them use math in projects that relate to something not in a textbook opens a new world for them. One of the most popular projects this year was our ‘Million Dollar Project.’ My students were in groups and had a million dollars to use for purchasing a house and the items that would need to go in the house. I taught them how to subtract decimals and to understand how this is like balancing a checkbook.”
This elementary school teacher urges, “The whole child is what is important, and I want my students to have positive experiences they will talk about for years to come.”
Like in any job, a person’s co-workers play a big role in the overall atmosphere of a work environment. Gorman, while she does not know who nominated her for Teach of the Year, attributes much of her success to her fellow teachers and their willingness to collaborate, calling them “some of the most incredible people who are also sharing ideas and working together.”
The award of Teacher of the Year is important to Gorman, but the opportunity to do what she does five days a week seems to be more fulfilling, saying what motivates her is “knowing that I have the opportunity to shape the lives of my students each and every day, being able to see the students understand something they never thought possible, or learning new things from each and every one of my students is so rewarding.”
