ROTTERDAM History teacher finds meaningful work in classroom
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series spotlighting teachers from around the Capital Region. BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.
Draper Middle School history teacher Fred Saccocio credits his career path to listening to the radio one day in 1986. He happened to hear a report about the teacher of the year, who spoke about how important the profession is. At the time, Saccocio had a job selling billboard advertising and was not satisfied. One of his friends who is a teacher at Mohonasen arranged for him to visit the school. Saccocio became more interested in switching professions and went back to school to get certified and then student-taught for a year at Mohonasen under seventh-grade teacher Bill Gold. His career change was official. “I obviously love the classroom. I like the energy that I feel in here. This is meaningful. The job I had before is not. I like the connection I have with kids,” he said. Saccocio, 45, earned his master’s degree at the College of St. Rose and taught at Schenectady Christian School for two years beginning in the fall of 1991 before returning to Mohonasen. Saccocio, who teaches eighthgrade history, said he enjoys interacting with the students and teachers both in and out of the classroom. Both frequently drop into his classroom during the free periods and they eat lunch in his room — as some did during this interview. He particularly likes getting to know the students. “A lot of kids are just really cool. They’re fun and funny and smart. I like being around them.” The day zips by for him. Mohonasen has block scheduling. Classes are 80 minutes and Saccocio has two or three classes per day. Because the periods are that long, Saccocio says he has to mix up his teaching style. He likes using his interactive “smart board” to play audio and visual clips from the historical period being studied. Technology has been a huge leap forward, he said. “When I started here, they still had film strip projectors, tape players. It’s hilarious,” he said. ..............>>>>...................>>>>...........http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01600&AppName=1
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