Math Teacher Michelle Marchetti to Retire After 32 Years

Name: Michelle Marchetti

Retiring: End of 2011-2012 school year

School: 

She was raised in Yorktown and graduated from Oneonta State University. Marchetti, who started as substitute math teacher in 1979 and eventually became computer coordinator for the district and finally a sixth–grade math teacher, is retiring after 32 years in the .

Patch: What have been the highlights of your experience in the Yorktown Schools?

Michelle Marchetti: My experience at Mildred Strang Middle School has been extremely rewarding. Time spent in the classroom teaching math to the wonderful young adolescents of Yorktown has proven to be the highlight of my career. They make me laugh every day and I hope they have enjoyed being in my classroom as much as I have enjoyed teaching them.

I have also thoroughly enjoyed directing the MESMS Variety Show, which I have been doing for the past 10 years and accompanying the chorus on piano for the past several years. Both of those activities touch my heart since music has been an important part of my life since I was a student in Yorktown myself. I performed on the stage of YHS many times, and being part of the music program at Strang is special to me.

Patch: What will you miss the most?

MM: I will miss many things when I retire, including the students who make my job fun and interesting and motivate me to do the best job possible. I have made so many close friends over the years, and I feel like they are part of my family. 

As the Teacher Coordinator for the Middle School Math Department for four years, I had the opportunity to lead a group of extremely competent and dedicated math teachers who have helped our students to succeed in math. Most of all, I will miss my teammates, who I work very closely with on a daily basis, insuring the success and well-being of all of our students

Patch: What are you looking forward to in retirement?

MM: I look forward to having the time to pursue interests I have not been able to in the past. I plan to spend more time volunteering at the , to learn to speak Italian, to take a cooking class and to find a group to sing with. I also want to spend more time with my 82-year-old mother, who has always been such a wonderful role model for me and my family. I plan to stay involved with MESMS by helping out with the Variety Show and playing the piano for the chorus. 

Patch: How do you feel looking back on your career in Yorktown?

MM: As I look back over my career, I feel extremely lucky to have spent almost all of it serving the young men and women in Yorktown as both a Computer Coordinator and a sixth grade math teacher. I will miss Yorktown very much, but I don't plan to disappear.

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