Granby Living April2020

TEACHER APPRECIATION
Compiled by Bruce Deckert
MARGARET BASTIAANSE
MARGARET BASTIAANSE
MATH TEACHER
HIGH SCHOOL MATH CONTENT AREA SPECIALIST (CAS)
GRANBY MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Grades, subjects: Mathematics — Grades 9-12
This school year — Geometry, Precalculus and
Calculus
Year you began teaching:
Started as a long-term math substitute teacher
in Granby in November 2000. Hired by Granby
as a math teacher in May 2001.
Year you began teaching in Granby:
Started as a teaching assistant at Granby Memorial
Middle School in September 1999.
Career history:
• Mass Mutual 1983-85 — Accounting/Finance
• The Hartford 1985-99 — Cost Accounting,
Personal Lines Financial, Director Strategic
Planning, Comptroller in Managed Care
Claims
Where were you born and raised?
Born: Montague, Mass.
Raised: South Deerfield, Mass.
What motivated you to pursue a teaching
career?
In high school I wanted to be a P.E. teacher, but
I was encouraged to consider getting a degree
in Accounting. Even after working in Finance
and Accounting for many years, I still thought
about teaching. I really enjoyed the aspects
of my job that included training other staff
members. I was often told, “You would be a
good teacher”.
In 1999, we moved to Granby and, fortunately,
with the support of my family, I was able to
pursue my long-term desire to teach. It was a
decision that changed my life and my family’s
life for the better. I can’t imagine myself doing
anything else that is more fulfilling for me.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your
work as a teacher?
Getting to know students and their families
and building relationships. Teaching isn’t just
about sharing content knowledge. It is equally
important to help my students make good
choices, celebrate their successes, and help
them understand that it is OK to fail, if they
learn something from it.
Being involved with student activities is also
a rewarding part of teaching. I have so many
great memories of coaching field hockey and
softball, co-advising Student Government, and
mentoring the Granby Grunts Robotics Team.
What do you enjoy most about working with
young people?
Every day my students make me think and
always make me laugh. You get to see your students
change over time. … It is amazing to see
them grow intellectually, but also sing, play in
bands, excel in athletics, build robots, get their
first job, attend their first high school dance,
and so many other great moments. What could
be better than that!
What is the biggest impediment to student
success today? How can teachers help students
overcome this obstacle and succeed?
Access to technology is a blessing and a curse
in education today. Technology can enrich and
support learning, but some students spend too
much time on electronics and do not always
use it appropriately. Stressing the value of personal
conversations and handwritten notes, and
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10 | APRIL 2020