The commitment our district has made to providing an environment that encourages students to become lifelong learners would not be possible without the incredible work of our teachers, some of whom know exactly what it means to be a Gladiator from their time here as students.
For the class of 2017, four alumni who chose careers in education have returned to Goshen as staff. Meet the class of 2017 graduates that are back in Goshen: Morgan Serkes, Isabella Almodovar, Hunter Mullane and Ryan Capocciamo, and see what they have to say about what makes Goshen a special place to be.
Morgan Serkes is the newest edition to the Class of 2017’s team in Goshen. This school year, Morgan became a guidance counselor in Goshen High School, something she was inspired to do by her teachers in Goshen when she was a student, although at first she thought she wanted to be a teacher. “I really like psychology and I really like being in a school, so what can I do that combines both of them?” Morgan said. “Through classes, I found school counseling. I’ve always been passionate about the college and career process, so it all worked out.”
Morgan is excited to be back in Goshen and working with students, both as a counselor and as a member of the coaching staff on the indoor track team. Serkes has plenty of expertise to bring to Gladiators’ athletics from her time as a Division I athlete at Siena College and Hofstra, along with serving as an assistant coach in Hofstra following her time as an athlete.
“Goshen is a special place where we have a lot of awesome staff who are great influences on students. It’s nice to be part of that. I feel like the tightness and closeness of the community just doesn’t change that small town feeling.”
Morgan sees the elements of Goshen that make it a special place to be from a different angle now as a staff member. “I think our district is amazing. Whether it’s academics, or athletics, I feel we offer a lot of different programs and resources. I think every teacher or staff member can offer something for our students.”
In a general sense, Morgan is thrilled to be back in Goshen. “It’s a really great feeling. It’s a sense of comfort and I felt like the transition was easier because it’s a lot of friendly faces. Goshen is a tight knit community, so it’s nice to be back in that and giving back to the community that’s done a lot for me to shape me into who I am.”
Isabella Almodovar got her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Queens College and taught in the Albany area after graduating from Goshen. Despite this, Isabella said her first day back in Goshen felt like she never left. “It was a very ‘at-home’ feeling, it was very welcoming,” Isabella said. “From my coworkers, teachers that I used to have, the administration, I felt very welcomed by everyone. There’s a joy and peace that you can immediately feel when you walk into school in Goshen.”
When Isabella was a student, and now as a dual certified E.N.L. teacher in Goshen High School, she always felt that the Goshen district and the community were inseparable. “Everybody comes together, it’s very tight knit here. I love that. That’s something that has never changed,” Isabella shared.
Nearly a decade after graduating as a student, Isabella still sees values in Goshen that make it a special place to be. “The new people being hired show me the values that inspired me to become a teacher are still here. Hiring people who are not just good educators but also good and genuine human beings is nice to see. I know if I need something, I have a lot of people I can go to. It was like that when I was a student, and it’s like that now that I work here.”
Ryan Capocciamo is back in Goshen as an English teacher, a career he realized he was right for as a music student at SUNY Oneonta. “I observed a classroom, and realized I could teach reading and writing,” Ryan said. “I fell in love with it.”
From the beginning, Ryan felt comfortable in his return to Goshen. “I think it just feels like home for a lot of people,” Ryan said. “It’s a great place to work. I love the people that are here. It is very ‘homey’.”
Now as a staff, Ryan encourages students to get involved like he did during his time as a student. “When I was in high school, I did the musicals, I did audio for them,” Ryan said. “By the time I was a senior I was in student government, I was on stage crew and tech crew. Reaching out and trying new things is worth it.”
Hunter Mullane was the first Gladiator from 2017’s graduating class to return to Goshen. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in history education and pre-med, Hunter was ready for his first job as a teacher. “It just happened to work out that when I graduated there was a job in Goshen,” Hunter said. The position was one he was happy to pursue. “I love Goshen and I love being here.”
“I think the biggest thing about Goshen that never changes is the student-centric focus of the staff,” Hunter said. “If a student wants to do something in Goshen, the district will do anything they can to accommodate that. Whether it’s a club, or taking an A.P. exam that we may have to offer, the district is very student-centered.”
This focus on students is in part why alumni choose to come back, Hunter says. “One of the biggest goals someone can accomplish is to work with and collaborate with the people that inspire them.” Hunter remembers the words of wisdom from retiree Michael Isseks, who told Hunter that students “never forget how you made them feel in the classroom.”
“Goshen grads remember how their teachers made them feel and want to pass it on to the next generation of students,” Hunter said.