The People Behind the Desk: What You Don’t Know About Them
Categories:

The People Behind the Desk: What You Don’t Know About Them

“We’re in the same class!” “What teacher did you get?” “Oh, I’ve heard that they…” These are just some of the questions that echo through the hallways on the first day of school. High school is a complete level up from middle school, and not knowing who will determine your academic fate can be rather intimidating. A teacher’s personality and relationship with students can either make or break the high school experience, no matter what grade you’re in. So, for our Golden Knights, we’re creating the ultimate guide to getting to know NVOT’s teachers: starting with Mr. Robert Ortiz, Ms. Helena Gliatta, and Mrs. Jennifer Acconzo. 
Yeeun Park, Hayden Lee, and Miles Kim • October 22, 2024
“This photo expresses my voracious appetite for learning.”
Mr. Robert Ortiz

“[Students] should be well-prepared for class, take pride in their work, and respect one another.” 

Class: US History I CPE, AP European History

About Me: “I love the variety of topics in US History.  I particularly enjoy helping my students make connections between early American documents–like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution–and our rights and responsibilities in today’s society.”

FUN FACT: “I was the kind of student who didn’t leave class to go to the bathroom unless it was an emergency.” [wink-wink]

“This photo expresses my voracious appetite for learning.” (Courtesy of Robert Ortiz)
“My baseball loving sons, Dominick and Luca, and my 3-legged dog, Gwen.”
Ms. Helena Gliatta

“Students can expect to be challenged to work hard but they can expect me to work equally hard to help them learn and develop their skills.”

Class: English 1 Honors, Asian Literature

About Me: “I love teaching English, especially having discussions about the works we read, exploring different characters and themes that connect to real life and build empathy.”

FUN FACTS: “I have an odd ability to correctly guess peoples’ astrological signs, which I remember forever, much longer than their names.” 

“If I was not a teacher, I would be traveling the world, reporting on different countries and their culture, philosophies, and traditions.”

“My baseball loving sons, Dominick and Luca, and my 3-legged dog, Gwen.” (Courtesy of Helena Gliatta)
“I love this picture because I'm glad my parents had the wherewithal to take it, knowing I would one day actually be a teacher. This picture represents me as a teacher because it shows that it truly has been my passion and dream to be a teacher since I was very young and it shows that if you focus and believe in your goals, you can achieve anything.”
Mrs. Jennifer Acconzo

“If you focus and believe in your goals, you can achieve anything.”

Class: Algebra 1 CP, Honors Geometry

About Me: “I love that I teach all freshmen. I love seeing them grow from the beginning to the end of the school year and knowing I had them from the beginning of their time here. I love being able to challenge all my students and seeing them rise to the challenge, but I also love working towards setting a solid foundation and supporting them so that they find success in future math courses. If they secretly fall in love with math in the process, that’s a plus!”

FUN FACTS: “If I weren’t a teacher, I would probably be working in a bakery because I love baking or a real estate agent because I love seeing the potential in a property.”

“I love this picture because I’m glad my parents had the wherewithal to take it, knowing I would one day actually be a teacher. This picture represents me as a teacher because it shows that it truly has been my passion and dream to be a teacher since I was very young and it shows that if you focus and believe in your goals, you can achieve anything.” (Courtesy of Jennifer Acconzo)

Featured photo by Dylan Woo, Art editor

Tags:
More to Discover