“There is no age limit on dreams and goals. You are exactly where you need to be!”
Meet Ms. Amanda Collier, a History teacher here at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech. She originally wanted to enter the medical field, but as she got older, she became very passionate about history. Ms. Collier wanted to share her passion with others and felt that teaching was the best way to incorporate it. This was all because she had an amazing teacher who made lessons relatable and enjoyable in 11th grade.
Ms. Collier is actually from the Boston area. She went to The John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, then transferred and finished high school at Stoneham High. After graduating, she went to UMass Dartmouth. In college, she was an undergraduate in History and received a Master of Arts in Teaching. Before working at GNBVT, Ms. Collier worked as a history teacher at a residential behavioral program. The best advice she could give a new teacher would be, “Make sure you have a strong plan, a backup plan, and a backup plan for the backup plan. Being prepared is the best feeling. It is also really important to take time for yourself and practice self-care daily.”
This September, she was hired here at GNBVT. Ms. Collier was excited to work here because she loves the idea of kids getting to explore both academics and a shop they love. She also feels strongly about the core values of preparation, passion, and perseverance because they are transferable across all life. Ms. Collier enjoys teaching most aspects of history, she says “I truly enjoy teaching most aspects of history, but I especially enjoy teaching topics and periods of history that involve people fighting and achieving the social and legal rights that we all deserve. I feel very passionate about topics such as The Progressive Era, The Harlem Renaissance, The Suffrage Movement, and The Civil Rights Movement.”
When outside of the classroom, Ms. Collier has many hobbies, one major being rugby. She played for 4 years at UMass Dartmouth and then 5 years in a women’s league. She really enjoys going to the beach, as well as taking her dog on walks. Ms. Collier also loves to travel and hopes to do more traveling next year. Her biggest inspiration is her parents and hopes that one day she can repay them for all of their hard work. Ms. Collier is a dedicated, passionate teacher and a nice, compassionate person. She is very proud to work here at GNBVT.
Article and Picture by: Kai Paim, Senior Media Technology