BCSD is excited to shine a light on its wonderful and dedicated staff and teachers each month. Get to know a little more about April’s featured staff members Mrs. Amy Cornell, Ms. Jennifer Overocker, Mrs. Stephanie Kneer, Mrs. Sherry Homiak, Ms. Ann Schnoop and Mr. Mark Primeau.
BCSD will quote the featured staffs’ responses to a light-hearted questionnaire. This is an opportunity for the staff at BCSD to share more about themselves as well as offer some advice from their perspective.
Mrs. Amy Cornell
Berlin Middle School
ELA Teacher
1. What is your favorite memory from school?
I really enjoyed my teachers who would tell us a story to help us remember the lesson, jump up on a desk to get our attention, and infuse the classroom with their personalities. Thank you Mr. Enfield, Mrs. Wever, Mr. Wever, and many more! From my teaching days, many of my favorite memories center around laughter, acts of kindness, insightful comments, and aha moments.
2. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? What is one of your hidden talents?
As a teenager, I square danced with two clubs and even competed at the state fair.
3. What makes a ‘good day’ at school?
A good day at school is when everyone is doing their best and being kind.
4. What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my child(ren) on a daily basis after a day at school?
What matters most is the conversation and not any question in particular. You can ask about their friends, subjects, funny moments, challenges, or maybe share a favorite memory that you have.
5. What are the best resources that we should consider using to support our child in the classroom?
Some of the best resources are Schoology, reading to your child or setting aside time for them to read, and reaching out to the teachers.
6. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
I think it is exciting any time we travel anywhere and there are so many fantastic places to visit in our own backyard and far away. But if I had to choose one place, it would be Greece. I have such fond memories of our school trip there many years ago. I loved being immersed in the history and beauty of Greece.
7. What is your “trapped on a desert island” book(s)?
I first fell in love with fantasy, science fiction, and humor. I now enjoy all genres. So, I would read any book available!
Ms. Jennifer Overocker
Berlin Middle High School
High School Math Teacher / Library Media Specialist
1. What is your favorite memory from school?
One of my favorite memories in high school was learning how to complete proofs in my high school Geometry class with my favorite math teacher, Mrs. Nadeau.
2. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? What is one of your hidden talents?
Students may be surprised to know that I own horses and travel the east coast of the US during the summer months competing in rodeos.
3. What makes a ‘good day’ at school?
There are so many things that make for a good day at school! The smaller things such as new books arriving in the library, to the larger successes where students are actively engaged and making real-world connections during a math lesson.
4. What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my child(ren) on a daily basis after a day at school?
The questions I would suggest asking are: How was your day? Name one thing that made you smile at school? What do you need help with?
5. What are the best resources that we should consider using to support our child in the classroom?
In order to support students in the classroom, I would suggest using the video lessons posted by teachers on schoology for lessons and RegentsPrep.org to prepare for the Regents exams.
6. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
If I could take students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, I would take them to the earliest circular library in England, known as the Bodleian Library in Oxford.
7. What is your “trapped on a desert island” book?
I love to read so it’s tough to pick just one! One of my favorites is called Educated by Tara Westover; it is so inspirational!
Mrs. Stephanie Kneer
Berlin Elementary School
Fourth Grade Teacher
1. What is your favorite memory from school?
I was in the ski club my junior and senior years of high school.
2. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? What is one of your hidden talents?
I went to high school in the building that is now our elementary school. I could tell students the subjects and teachers that taught in their exact classroom in the mid to late 1980’s. For example, Ms. Baker’s band room was the old girl’s locker room. Mrs. Healy’s second grade classroom used to be the boy’s locker room and so much more. The bleachers that I sat on for sports games were just replaced. Hidden talents???? Hmmm…That’s a tough one. I’m not sure.
3. What makes a ‘good day’ in the school building for you?
When unexpected information or current events “show up” in pre planned lessons and fit in perfectly. Fourth grade students are able to begin to understand how history impacts the world we live in, as well as find connections to some current events.
4. What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my child(ren) on a daily basis after a day at school?
When my three kids were growing up, the first question that I asked them at the end of the day was to tell me what their favorite part (or most interesting part) of the day was. This was a springboard for opening up and finding out about other parts of their day.
5. What are the best resources that we should consider using to support our child in the classroom?
My first thought is books. That seems like a very common and simplistic answer, however, it covers so much ground. I don’t necessarily mean for kids to read independently, but for adults to read to the children in their house. Reading aloud can be done with multiple age groups at once. Imagination, spending time together, and indirectly developing a variety of reading skills and concepts are among the many benefits of reading aloud. When my kids were young we read the series The Adirondack Kids as a family. The setting happens to be in an area we loved to vacation so there were so many connections we made, not to mention the books provided new adventures for us to do while we were in the Adirondacks.
6. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
Ironically, I was just talking about this with my students recently. We would love to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston which follows the path of the Revolutionary War. We had a discussion one day with big dreams about our class getting some hotel rooms and staying overnight. They are a great class and one that I would actually do this with.
7. What is your “trapped on a desert island” book?
I love any historical fiction book.
Mrs. Sherry Homiak
Berlin Elementary School
Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
1. What is your favorite memory from school?
My favorite memories are all the school dances and football games that I went to with my friends.
2. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? What is one of your hidden talents?
I don’t know if it’s a talent but I really enjoy going fishing and spending time outside with my family.
3. What makes a ‘good day’ at school?
They know it’s a safe place and no matter what happens you are there for them.
4. What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my child(ren) on a daily basis after a day at school?
I always ask my grandkids what was the best thing that they did that day and what is something new that they learned.
5. What are the best resources that we should consider using to support our child in the classroom?
There are many resources available but I think the best is being able to have one on one time when a student is struggling.
6. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
We just did a unit on America with our students and they loved learning about our country so I would take them to Washington D.C. to see the White House.
7. What is your “trapped on a desert island” book?
The Gift by Danielle Steel.
Ms. Ann Schnoop
BCSD Transportation Department
Bus Driver
1. What is your favorite memory from school?
Physical Education class with Mrs. Pam Gerstel. Square dancing and tennis were my favorites.
2. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? What is one of your hidden talents?
They may be surprised that I like shooting clay targets. One can’t give away hidden talents, then they wouldn’t be hidden anymore. It is more fun to make people wonder about that.
3. What makes a ‘good day’ on your bus run?
Everyday is a good day on the bus. But it is even better when students are respectful and follow the bus rules.
4. What do you love most about being part of the BCSD Transportation Department?
I love getting to greet students with a positive vibe and I just plain love driving. And sending them home with a simple “goodnight” when they get off the bus.
5. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
I would like to go to Switzerland or Italy, so it would be one of those places.
6. What is your “trapped on a desert island” book?
It would have to be the Harry Potter series because I have not had a chance to read them yet.
Mr. Mark Primeau
BCSD Transportation Department
Bus Driver
1. What is your favorite memory from school?
Playing sports. Football was the sport I was very good at.
2. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? What is one of your hidden talents?
Fixing broken down equipment all over the Northeast.
3. What makes a ‘good day’ on your bus run?
The smiles and responses I get when I say “good morning” and “goodnight”.
4. What do you love most about being part of the BCSD Transportation Department?
I love the driving and some of my favorite trips are for the sports teams and field trips.
5. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
I would take them to all the states in the USA.
6. What is your “trapped on a desert island” book?
Any book about sports, especially baseball and football.