The Buzz

Just about any student at North Reading High School knows Mr. Divecchia. This can be chiefly attributed to the fact that he teaches Freshman Seminar, meaning nearly every student at NRHS has had him at one point. The award for teacher of the month in November has been deservedly awarded to  Mr. Divecchia.

Background:

For those who aren’t aware, Mr. Divecchia works in the Math Department, teaching Typing and Algebra II honors (between which  he has no favorites). He works alongside teachers such as Mrs. Gagnon, who, according to him, is “always talking about different things we can be doing in our classes, and just making sure we’re as prepared as we can be.” As any of his students can attest, Mr. Divecchia is a natural when it comes to teaching. However, his plan wasn’t always to be a math teacher. An alumnus of North Reading High School, Mr. Divecchia attended college at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied finance. He recounts that, “I always knew I wanted to get into teaching eventually. I thought I’d end up working in business for a little bit longer.” He goes on to explain, “when I got into teaching, I basically would have been part-time if I was only teaching business. I’ve always liked math, so I was told if I could get [a] math license [then I would also be able to teach that and be a full time teacher; so I went for it.” This is how Mr. Divecchia ended up where he is today,  a beloved math teacher who takes pride in his work. 

How do you feel about being recognized as Teacher of The Month?

Mr. Divecchia is very appreciative of the recognition that the title of Teacher of the Month affords for teachers at North Reading High School. However, he fears that his position as the freshman seminar teacher might have influence, saying, , “sometimes I do get worried that it is because of my seminar class; I see every student in the seminar class; I think that it gives me more opportunity to have more students know who I am.” It is true that Mr. Divecchia has made a mark on nearly every one of the students at NRHS; his seminar leaves a mostly  positive impression in the minds of many students, and it is possible that this is the reason he is so recognized. So while he is thankful for the recognition, he hopes that other lesser known teachers also receive the appreciation that they deserve. 

What’s a unique fact about yourself that not many people know? 

After taking some time to think about the question, Mr. Divecchia replied, “I like to think that I can put a positive twist on most things”, he went on to explain, “A lot of students go into a math class hating math, or dreading it … and I do think that if I can twist that in any way just to get them to enjoy the class, it can make learning the math that much easier. That is always my goal when it comes to teaching math.” Many can agree that Mr. Divecchia is able to take an otherwise tough math class and spin it into a lighthearted period filled with jokes, laughter, and of course, learning. 

Truly, the work that Mr. Divecchia does for this school is very crucial to the learning experience of high schoolers and despite his apprehension, is apt of recognition. 

Keep updated with the NRHS Buzz to learn more about any upcoming teachers of the month!