After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in animal sciences and a minor in Spanish in 2016, Danielle Cozzola decided to go back to school to become a teacher.
“I decided that I wanted to go back to school in order to obtain a career with a larger amount of community involvement,” said Cozzola, who works part time at the same animal hospital to this day.
In her seventh year as a science teacher at Rantoul Township High School, Cozzola, who received her ESL endorsement in the spring, is fulfilling that mission by making science accessible to her students.
“Danielle goes above and beyond to support her students in and out of the classroom,” Assistant Principal Brooke Billings said. “She is an amazing communicator with her students and parents. She can often be found in the crowd or working an event to support students in their extracurricular activities.”
I find my work important because … I strongly believe that every student has the ability to learn. It is a gift to work with adolescents, because they are still working to become the best version of themselves. Watching this happen before your eyes is truly astonishing. I get the privilege to do that every day while encouraging them along the way.
I became a teacher because … I wanted to be able to share my knowledge and kindness with others in my community while contributing to the growth of younger generations.
My favorite or most unique lesson that I teach is … teaching students how to read the periodic table. The periodic table is a large diagram depicting all of the elements (that we currently know of), and it can seem intimidating at a first glance. I get to teach students a life skill and a science skill, which is breaking down tasks to make information more accessible and understandable.
My most fulfilling moments on the job are when … I get to learn from my students. Everyone’s brain works differently, and if you are a teacher, you get to witness various methods of solving the same problem. My students sometimes find ways to solve problems that are not the way I would have taught or explained the problem. When they do this, I get to discover new ways of teaching and bettering my pedagogy. They help me be a better teacher just by being who they are!
I keep students engaged by … showing them that I care. No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Regardless of if a student is having a great day or a not-so-great day, I want them to feel welcome and safe in my classroom. Students who are engaged are students who feel this way.
Something else I’m passionate about is … thrifting. I love estate sales, thrift stores and garage sales. I have a passion for vintage clothing and upcycling items in general.
My favorite teacher and subject to study in school was … Mr. Knope (AP Spanish teacher at Crystal Lake Central High School). Thank you for helping me become bilingual!
If I weren’t a teacher, I would be … a landscaper. I love to be outside and plant flowers! That will be my retirement plan. Until then, I will be a teacher!
— ANTHONY ZILIS