Sparta — Tori Zdanciewicz has known since fourth grade that teaching was the job for her, so much so that she never really entertained the possibility of doing anything else.
Now a fourth-grade teacher herself, Zdanciewicz — known as “Mrs. Z” by the Appleview Elementary community — has no regrets about being so single-minded about her chosen career.
And she has a way with students. Whether she’s leading lessons in her own classroom, overseeing the pleasant pandemonium of Global School Play Day or teaching American Sign Language to 60-plus students at a time as part of Appleview’s ASL Club, the Northview High School graduate seems to almost effortlessly capture and hold kids’ attention.
What’s her secret? It could be that students can sense just how confident Zdanciewicz is in their ability to succeed.
“I believe all students have the ability to learn, and I work to academically engage students to help them be successful,” Zdanciewicz said. “I tell my students every day that I love them and they are amazing and brilliant; I want them to know that they have a safe place when they come to our classroom.”
During a recent interview, SNN learned more about what makes this teacher tick.
Why do you teach? “Honestly, there has never been another career choice that appealed to me,” Zdanciewicz said. “At my fourth-grade graduation ceremony, the question ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ was asked. My answer was: a teacher.”
Teaching has always been her passion, she said, and she’s proud of the hard work she put into turning it into a career.
What is your biggest motivator that keeps you excited about teaching? “I love meeting my students each year and getting to know them. I am also a bit of a data enthusiast, and love seeing the academic growth of my students over time.”
What’s the best thing about teaching fourth-graders? “Fourth grade is the best grade! I love the engagement of students at this age, and the excitement they show from learning new things.
“The best part about this grade is witnessing the shift in so many students as they become more mature and responsible.”
What are some of the biggest challenges in your role and how do you strive to meet them? “The biggest challenge is that there is never enough time in the day. Thankfully, I work with an amazing team of teachers who are all encouraging and supportive, so we can teach quality curriculum in a meaningful way.
“Another challenge is developing your class into a classroom family each year. You need to be strategic with team-building activities as well as making sure throughout the year to emphasize the importance of being there for one another and spreading kindness.”
What’s the most amazing thing about your students? “Their level of excitement when learning new things. So many students get so enthralled and want to do more research on their own, or read other books on the topic.”
What would you say to someone considering teaching as a profession? “Teaching is not easy, but it is an extremely rewarding profession. You will work hard (and) feel defeated at times, but remember that you are making a difference. You are helping each student on their journey toward success.”
What’s something your students have taught you? “Students have taught me to be more flexible with teaching; days do not always go as planned. You also need to be able to laugh and have fun with students.”
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