Faculty

by the Gold Team

Welcome, Mrs. Drew

Q:  What are your responsibilities in the school?
A:  I do a lot of things.  For example, I help all the students with any personal problems and help students understand each other.  I also do some workshops.

Q:  Are you excited for your first year in BMS?
A:  Yes, very much and I’m excited to work with the children and the school community.

Q:  How did you decide to come to this school?
A:  I like working with this group because this is a time when children have questions and concerns.

Q:  Which college did you attend?
A:  I went to Rider University where I got a degree in history and teaching.  I got my counselor degree at Montclair State University.

Q:  Is this your first time working in a school?
A:  No, I’ve been working in a school for ten years.

Q:  What business did you have before now?
A:  I was a student counselor at another middle school and high school.

Q:  What is your favorite thing to do with your free time?
A:  In the summer, I go to the beach sometimes.  In the cold days, I usually read.

Q:  Do you have any pets?
A:  Yes, I have three cats and one dog.  It’s really funny.  One cat is a bully and attacks the other cats and dog.  But when he wants to be sweet, he acts cuddly.  It depends on his mood.

Welcome, Mrs. Fitzgerald

This year, we at Bernardsville Middle School were very fortunate to get new teachers. Among those teachers is Mrs. Fitzgerald, a sixth and seventh grade science teacher. I asked her some questions and she answered them extremely well. Hope you learn lots about one of the new staff members here at BMS!

Q. How many children do you have and how old are they?
A. I have 2 children - my daughter is 11 and my son is 9.

Q. How does it feel to make the transition from a substitute to a real teacher? Is it harder to be a real teacher?
A. The transition from being a substitute to being a full time teacher has been relatively smooth.  The friendliness and support of the teachers here has really made me feel welcome and supported.  Yes - it's harder being a full time teacher, but it's also more fun and rewarding.

Q. Do you think your past or present students were/are more cooperative?
A. I think my present students are more cooperative because they know me, and we are building a relationship.  When you are a substitute, the students don't see you everyday so they don't know you as well.

Q. What do you like best in BMS?
A. What I like best about BMS is the atmosphere of high academic standards combined with an open and friendly environment.

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ.

Q. Where did you go to school when you were younger?
A. I went to St. Bartholomew's School in Scotch Plains.

Q. What were your ambitions when you were younger?
A. When I was younger I wanted to be a lot of different things - one of which was a doctor.  But as I got older, I realized I didn't like to see blood so obviously being a doctor was out!

Q. Do you have any siblings?
A. I have 2 older sisters and a younger brother.

Q. Where did you go to college and what was your major?
A. I graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Business Administration.

Q. Why did you decide to teach science?
A. I decided to become a teacher about 3 years ago.  I had been home with my children for several years and wanted to return to the work force but did not want to return to the corporate environment.  I decided to return to Graduate School and obtain my teaching certification.  I chose Science because I think it is fun and amazing to teach and to learn!

Welcome, Mr. Couch

Q: When did you learn Latin?
A: I started learning at age 13 and became fluent around the age of 19.

Q: Do you have any siblings?
A: I have a brother who is three years older than myself.

Q: What do you like about BMS so far?
A: Wow, a lot. Everyone has welcomed me and offered their assistance if I did have any questions. However, the system here is logical, ergo it has been a simple transition and I have no questions. The ease of the transition into this phase of my life has been comforting, something that is atypical for a lot of people in the same situation or stage in their lives.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in south central Pennsylvania in a very remote area, about an hour north of Baltimore and a half hour south of Harrisburg.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: I exercise at least once a day, usually a 3 mile run in the mornings before school. I play soccer as much as possible, and I love playing the piano and guitar. In the winter I ski and am teaching myself to snowboard.  And lastly, when I am just trying to relax, I love reading classical literature.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: My favorite food is probably cheese pizza. I really enjoy turkey club sandwiches.

Q: What subjects did you like when you were in middle school?
A: I was a language person. Although I did not dislike math, I far more enjoyed reading or writing based courses.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?
A: Reading by far. It is the most beneficial and intellectually stimulating activity in the world.

Welcome, Miss Oswald

Q: What inspired you to become a librarian?
A: Being an English teacher, I always liked to read and spent a lot of time in the library. I've always been passionate about books. Probably my biggest inspiration, though, has been my mother...a very happy librarian. 

Q: Have you ever taught at another school?
A: Yes, I taught 6th grade Language Arts in Florham Park.

Q: What is your favorite book and why?
A: I have so many favorites. If I had to pick one favorite book, I would probably say The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. I've always found the tragedy of someone's greed and misguided quest for the American Dream so fascinating. The book's characters ask you to put yourself in their shoes. The book also forces you to think about your own ambitions. Every time I read the book it becomes more and more relevant to me.  

Q: Were you nervous on the first day here at BMS?
A: I think everyone is always nervous on their first day of school. It was very exciting for me, and I was really looking forward to meeting everyone.

Q: Do you know anyone as a really good friend here?
A: I've met so many great people on the staff. I'm happy to say that I consider many a good friend.

Q: What do you like about BMS?
A: I like that everyone really seems to care about one another and about the school as a whole.

Q: Did you grow up with any siblings?
A: No.

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Randolph, NJ

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