Schools
Retiring Kindergarten Teacher Jeanne Dal Piaz Reflects On A 3-Decade-Long Career
The Todd Elementary School teacher is retiring this summer after guiding generations of young students at a key milestone in their lives.
Todd Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jeanne Dal Piaz is retiring this summer after 30 years. We talked with her about her plans for retirement, what advice she has for new teachers, and she shared a particular funny incident that happened.
Q: How long have you been a teacher at the school, what grade/subject and where did you teach before?
Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A: I taught for 30 years at Todd, 29 years of them kindergarten.
Q: What are some memorable moments from your career at the school?
Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A: Remote teaching kindergarten, for sure, as well as going up in a bucket truck the firefighters brought to Todd, and holding a kangaroo brought to a school presentation.
Q: Can you share a funny incident that happened while teaching?
A: A few years ago, a student told me she saw a mouse. I didn’t want her or the other students to be scared so I downplayed it and tried to pretend it may have been something else. Then, the mouse started coming toward me and I was so scared I let out a screech and jumped on a chair. She said, “See, I told you!” I was so embarrassed by my reaction to the mouse after telling the students it was “nothing to worry about.”
Q: Do you have any advice to offer to a teacher starting out?
A: Ask other teachers for advice to reap their collective intelligence; no one expects you to know it all. One never stops learning new strategies. And if you are a kindergarten teacher like me, embrace the chaos and laugh!
Q: What are your plans for retirement?
A: For starters, I want to feel even healthier and take more time walking my dog and being active. I know I will be doing some volunteer work, but I am going to explore the best opportunities to be impactful once I have the extra free time to do so.
Q: If you could pass any wisdom to your students, what would it be?
A: The kinder you are, the more kindness will come back to you.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “People may not remember what you said, but they’ll always remember the way you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
