Andriana Turcotte has been teaching in the math department at Moravian Academy for two years. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Turcotte is math competitions team director, a Ski Club chaperone, chairperson of our "Mind Body Spirit" Committee, and an eighth-grade advisor.
Let's get to know Mrs. Turcotte.
Why middle school?
As a middler myself, I found middle school to be the most difficult years of my schooling and connected with two of my seventh-grade teachers who I still am in contact with today. Those teachers listened and supported me, making me feel valued. My hope is to do the same for my students. I also love that each day is different.
What aspect of your curriculum/program do you enjoy teaching the most and why?
Linear systems and financial literacy topics are curricular areas I enjoy most because they are so relevant to real life, regardless of the future careers our students are driven toward.
What is your favorite moment/event at Moravian Academy during the school year?
One of my favorite moments is when we as an entire school community raise the flag after opening chapel and sing the alma mater, ending with a “Hip hip hooray!” It's such a wonderful way to set the tone for a new school year!
What do you most enjoy about teaching at Moravian Academy?
Moravian Academy is a special place. I love that we can take our classes outside to learn on a beautiful, spring day or bring a fun activity into the classroom, too. On a daily basis, I enjoy starting each morning with my advisory and chatting with colleagues at lunch.
What do you hope to provide to students in your classes and what do you hope they take away?
I hope to instill confidence in their math abilities and for them to know it takes a lot of practice, perseverance, and some failures to master some of the difficult content the students are learning. During class, my hope is that students can have fun with math content and embrace the challenges.
What do you value about the home/school partnership?
I value parents and teachers all working together to ensure success for all of our children. When the adults are all on the same page, it justifies how we are all advocating in the students’ best interests, both academically and emotionally.
What Moravian Academy tradition do you enjoy most?
I enjoy the Lovefeasts and the leadership role the eighth graders take on during these special services.
What's something we don’t know about you?
In high school, I was debating between physical therapy and teaching for my future career. Both careers meant I would be able to help people, which was my overarching goal. Having to work on cadavers in college was the deal breaker for pursuing physical therapy, so teaching won. I haven’t looked back since and love what I do.