Rachel Pirrone is the new math teacher in room 208, several years ago she attended Francis Howell North herself and in 2021 she graduated with her bachelor’s in math education from Lindenwood University. 

“I always wanted to be a teacher. I just have always had a passion for helping others get that lightbulb moment and realizing that they’re more capable than they realize,” Pirrone said “Also, in school I really loved math and even some of my teachers here at North encouraged me to become a math teacher because math has always been one of my strong suits.”

This is her first semester teaching at North and her second semester teaching on her own. Pirrone started teaching Algebra I and Geometry at the start of the second semester to replace the previous math teacher. Although she has not been teaching for years, fellow math teacher Hannah Snyder who is her mentor has been helping Pirrone manage the change. 

“Ms. Pirrone was actually one of my students when I first started here,” Snyder said. “She’s always kind to students, she’s one of the kindest, most respectful people I know. She really has a heart of gold. She wants all of her students to succeed, and she’s going to do what she can to get them there.”

The change in the middle of the semester can be hard and Pirrone knows and acknowledges this. She is slowly integrating her own teaching style. As a new teacher this semester she has all new students, most have been open to the change.

“I’m so excited to build relationships with students,” Pirrone said. “I think that having an adult in your corner means a lot to a lot of students and sometimes they push it away until they just think they’re not worthy of it. That’s not the case at all, while I will probably have some pushback from students right now, I just want everyone to know that I’m their biggest cheerleader and I’m going to be here for them and support them in doing that.” 

Pirrone strives to create a positive learning environment and wants her students to be comfortable to ask questions and know that they are welcome to speak to her about non-math-related things as well as math questions.