Amidst the bustling halls of Woodland Regional High School, the presence of a remarkable student teacher has forever altered the minds of young students. Jessica Romaniello, began her love for English language arts during her formative years. The path towards becoming an educator was further shaped by her extraordinary teachers Romaniello encountered in high school along her journey, whose dedication to their job made a profound impact.
During Romaniello’s time at Woodland, Miss Romaniello created many memories in the classroom, hoping to leave a lasting impact and impression on students. One particular experience Romaniello cherishes a lesson involving her freshman students who were asked to act out scenes from the Odyssey.
“They had to read a page from the Odyssey and then create a little script with their friends and act it out in front of the class,” Romaniello says with a smile on her face.
This assignment led to a light-hearted performance by a group of freshman students who infused modern slang into their dialogue, causing laughter and smiles throughout the classroom.
An aspect of Woodland that resonated deeply with Romaniello was the school’s priortization of social and emotional learning, made evident through daily mandatory advisory periods.
“Woodland really values social and emotional learning here above all else… Every other school I’ve been in, we only had an advisory once every month. But here it’s every single day. So you really have a strong bond with your students, students have a strong connection to each other. And it’s a good way to feel supported.”
Romaniello aspires to secure a teaching position at another local high school, allowing Romaniello to continue sharing her enthusiasm for English and also hopes to get involved with theater. The potential of pursuing a PhD also remains a part of her long-term goals, as they continue to strive and grow and evolve as an educator.
As Romaniello looks back at her year at Woodland, she acknowledges the deep connections formed with the students and colleagues here at Woodland. She describes the school as “genuinely one of the nicest districts, one of the nicest schools I’ve ever been in.” Her journey to becoming a teacher began six years ago, marked by an undergraduate degree in New York, where she majored in education and minored in English, adolescent, and special education, in addition to psychology and theater. Romaniello went on to complete her master’s degree in Connecticut.
Driven by a desire to shape the lives of her students and help them realize their boundless potential, this extraordinary student teacher has undoubtedly left a mark on the Woodland High school community. As she embarks on the next chapter of their journey, the lessons learned and memories forged within the halls will undoubtedly serve as a guiding light for years to come.
