After the retirement of Caroline Wolsifer, Del Val’s new math teacher, Breanna Vinella, stepped up and is teaching Algebra 1 and Geometry classes.
Vinella’s love for math started at a young age, though she never knew what career to make out of it. During her summers, Vinella worked at summer camps and took tutoring opportunities to help students understand math and simplify complex processes to make them easier to understand.
“I like being able to have something so complex and being able to simplify it into something really easy,” Vinella said.
Following her graduation from TCNJ, Vinella started teaching at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. Now she has joined the Del Val math department, teaching both Algebra 1 and Geometry.
While this is her first year at Del Val, Vinella is determined to help her students learn to the best of her ability, teaching them how to solve math problems through critical thinking rather than just giving the answer and how to solve the problem.
“I hope to help my students with problems and critical thinking through things rather than just making sure they know how to solve a certain problem,” Vinella said. “Critical thinking and problem solving skills are just as important and are very transferable to every kind of job.”
Vinella’s determination to support her students is already being seen through her effort to help them whenever they need. Sophomore geometry student, Sofia Sliver, has shared how willing Vinella is to help whether it is during class time or lunch.
“She’s very open to communicating and helping if you have questions,” Sliver said. “She seems so excited to help us understand and I look forward to her class.”
Although teaching can present challenges, Vinella explained how supported she feels at Del Val by fellow staff members and supervisors. Knowing that she has a team of people to lean on if any issues or questions arise during her first year has reassured her in this transition.
“The biggest reason I chose to work at Del Val was how kind and welcoming everyone was during the interview process, everyone in the administration has always looked out for me,” Vinella said.
Vinella is excited for the remainder of her first year teaching at Del Val and looks forward to forming bonds with her students and helping them through any struggles they may face as the year progresses.
“I want students to realize they don’t need to be scared to come into my classroom, or wave to me in the hallway,” Vinella said. “I know it gets intimidating in math with complex topics but I want them to know that mistakes are valid and they allow thinking and learning to happen.”
