Teaching Career Beckons Tara Narine
Tara Narine has enjoyed the past four years at Huntington High School. The senior will be graduating in a few weeks and heading off to SUNY College at New Paltz. If her career plans hold she'll be back in a scholastic classroom before too long, only this time as a teacher.
Huntington teachers are quite fond of the teenager. They respect her intellect and appreciate her hard work. "In the past four years I've become very close with many of the school's faculty," Ms. Narine said. This year she was an intern with science teacher Lori Pyzocha Kenny in an Honors Living Environment course section.
The teacher and senior have had a strong relationship for many years. "She was my ninth grade Honors Living Environment teacher who I absolutely enjoyed," said Ms. Narine about Mrs. Kenny. "She made the class fun and exciting everyday."
The Huntington High School internship program encourages students like Ms. Narine to "try out" a career and see if they like it before pursuing college coursework or employment. The experience in a science classroom helped confirm the teenager's career direction.
"Mrs. Kenny has taught me so much about what it takes to be a teacher, and has shown me how caring and determination can really help students," Ms. Narine said. "She has taught me so much and has always been there if I needed someone to talk to or go to for advice and for that I am very grateful."
"She is enthusiastic, well prepared and is an excellent teacher." Mrs. Kenny said. "She is highly dedicated to the success of her lessons and employing differentiated instruction."
As part of her internship the teenager taught science lessons and helped organize a class trip to the Bronx Zoo. The field trip required extensive planning, including creation of a scavenger hunt that involved having students "find" animals and different aspects of the ecology based upon a set of facts the senior developed.
Ms. Narine said she has also been "influenced" by high school math teacher Joann Ferazi and science teacher Thomas Masone. "Along with Mrs. Kenny, they have really inspired me to look into a possible career in teaching either math or science. As of now, I am majoring in math."
The grounded and well-rounded teenager has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. Ms. Narine completed her Gold Award this year. Her final project involved bringing speakers into district schools to discuss the dangers of heart disease along with prevention strategies. "I am hoping the school will continue this for years to come because it's really important for people to know these dangers as young as possible," she said.
Her "favorite thing" about high school has been "making strong ties with new friends and stronger ones with old friends," Ms. Narine said. "I was able to do this by playing JV and varsity soccer since ninth grade, supporting and participating in school events and challenging my brain to take harder courses."
"Tara has a willingness to help everyone, as can be seen by the extra-help she has given students during her lunch periods," Mrs. Kenny said. "She is a great leader and mentor and she is always willing to learn with excitement. I couldn't imagine not having her working with me this year. It has made it an extra special year and at the same time more difficult to say goodbye to such an awesome individual."
A new chapter will be opened soon in Ms. Narine's life at New Paltz. "Although I'm excited about a new start in college, I will miss Huntington High School very much," she said. "I advise all freshmen to make friends, have a good time and appreciate everything this school has to offer."