Mathematics Instructor Mrs. Ferris, who has approached her 30th year at Becton Regional High School, explained how she was interviewed by Dr. Samuel Feldman, the superintendent at the time, in 1989. “I assume it went well because by the time I got home there was a message on my answering machine that I had the job,” she said. “I did not meet the principal until I was here for three days, and he asked for my hall pass because he did not know I was the new math teacher.”

Mrs. Ferris originally wanted to be a professional sports team statistician. “However, 30 years ago it was difficult for women to get in the field, so my college advisor recommended I have a teacher certification as a backup,” she explained. In the meantime, she completed some freelance work for the New York Islanders hockey team. After teaching for two years though, she truly grew to love the profession.

Mrs. Ferris started college at Syracuse University and finished at Ramapo College. “In my opinion, you can’t learn how to teach from a textbook. No textbook can prepare you for the everyday actions of a teenager; the classroom is the best textbook.”

“The most important thing I learned as an educator is to be flexible with both your students and colleagues. Sometimes the best lessons are the ones that happen at the spur of the moment with no planning. Also, having a good and respectful relationship with both is crucial to achieving success,” she said.

As a teacher for three decades, she tries to instill in her students that having common sense is key. She believes that if you have that, then everything will fall into place, and in turn, one will be able to make all the right decisions for himself or herself. 

Mrs. Ferris said that there have been so many memorable moments at Becton, the first being named Teacher of the Year in 2017. The second memory that she holds dear to her heart is every June when Becton’s alma mater plays at graduation. She takes a deep breath during that moment each year and says, “I did it!” The Class of 2019 will be the 30th graduation ceremony that she has organized and describes each one as being stressful but rewarding.

“The most special graduation was when I arranged for Class of 2011 graduate Matthew Dickman, who passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer, to hand his diploma to his brother who was graduating in 2015. To give the Dickman family that little bit of joy was very special,” she said.

Her advice to students who are considering a career in education is to obtain certification in more than one subject. She believes that being able to teach more than one discipline will make someone more desirable to an employer. “Also, don’t take everything so seriously when it comes to planning a lesson. If you don’t finish something in one period, it is no big deal,” she stressed.

The mathematics educator noted that her three children have had the most impact on her life and throughout her years of teaching. “Everything I do, I do for them, and I want them to be proud of me. They taught me about patience and that every child is different.”

As for future plans, she said does not really plan out her future. “I just hope to be happy and healthy and attend many professional sporting events at numerous venues.”