Hingham Extraordinary Teacher: Barbara Buckley

Who: Barbara Buckley

What: 8^th grade math

Where: Hingham Middle School for the past 9 years

Why did you become a math teacher? I was not a great math student in high school, but when I went to college I had a math professor who really turned me on to thinking about math in different ways, and made me see that I didn’t need to be Albert Einstein to be good in math. Having struggled helps me to be a more compassionate and more thorough teacher.

Did you always want to be a teacher?  I wanted to be a nurse, actually! I don’t know what happened! I’ve been very happy being a teacher though.

What is your favorite part of the job Having all those sweetie pies to love. Just being around these wonderful young people who have so much energy, who are high-spirited and are so fun to be with.

Do you have any children? I have three sons – a junior, a sophomore, and an 8^th grader.

Do you have any hobbies? I work out a lot; it’s a really important thing I do. I love to cook. I love to do anything outside. I’ve done a lot of work for the Cohasset soccer club over last decade and I just got involved with volunteering with the farmers at Holly Hill Farm. I like music. I love to hike and be in the woods.

What’s your favorite book? Right now I’m re-reading “Roots” by Alex Haley. My favorite of all time is “The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck.

What’s your favorite movie? Anything with Jim Carrey!

What’s your favorite food? Mexican. But I love to cook. I like to bake breads and make desserts. My favorite way to spend a snow day is to have a big fire spend the whole day cooking.

What about sports?  I’ve been running for 38 years. I do a lot of lifting, and swim on a team in summer. But no triathalons – I’m not a big bike person.  But if it was a run and swim, and who can eat the most cereal, now that would be a triathalon for me! I also love watching my kids play sports.

How would you describe your middle school self? Very tall! I’m almost 5’11’ and have been this height since I was an 8^th grader. Rather bumbling.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? I would probably be either some kind of children’s advocate through some kind of social services agency. Either that or a farmer.

What’s your favorite music? I like everything from old Steely Dan to country to classical to new music, like some of the new rap that my kids turned me on to.

Who is your hero? I would have to say my older sister. She was killed in a car accident 10 years ago. She was a wonderful mom and a great listener, and brilliant. She was an aerospace engineer. She embodied everything I hope to be.

If you won the lottery, what would you do? I would get a cleaning lady!

One thing most people wouldn’t know about you? I’m shy. I prefer to be home with family and a few close friends rather than go out in a big crowd.

Final thoughts? Other than being a mom and a wife, teaching is definitely the most important thing that I do. I’m really passionate about it. I’m very grateful that it’s what I get to do every day.