By Katie Vasquez
In Paul Mazza’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes, students know not to expect an easy A.
The St. Joan of Arc teacher said he holds his students to the highest standards.
“I have a reputation for being tough, you know,” Mr. Mazza said.
But just because Mr. Mazza is tough doesn’t mean he isn’t shaping these young minds for the better.
“He helped me to be more open about poetry, and now I’m able to express myself more freely and have more confidence in that,” said Adriana Moreno, an eighth grader at St. Joan of Arc.
For the last 38 years, Mr. Mazza has seen dozens of students come and go, and while some things may have changed for the former math teacher, now science teacher, the one thing he’s always done is encourage his kids to try.
“Kids are always afraid of wrong answers,” Mr. Mazza said. “With science, some of the best science guys came from wrong answers. So don’t ever be afraid of the wrong answer.”
His perseverance for his pupils is why Mr. Mazza is one of the teachers being recognized at Futures in Education’s upcoming gala.
While the nonprofit for years has been putting the spotlight on kids- and helping them attend Catholic schools across Brooklyn and Queens.
This year, they focus on the teachers and highlight those who go above and beyond.
St. Joan of Arc Principal Agnes Mosejczuk says no one deserves it more than Mr. Mazza.
“Mr. Mazza is an outstanding educator,” Mosejczuk said. “He truly cares about his students and learning. He inspires them to dream big, reach high, and work hard. His work ethic is so high, and he instills that in his students. He expects them to, you know, do work on time to be in school on time.”
Mr. Mazza is honored by the recognition, but he says his job is about one thing.
“I’m here for the kids, and what can I do for them,” Mazza said. “What do we need to get done today, and such, and that sort of keeps me grounded.”
Because he has seen the fruits of his work in his classroom.
For Brandon Novillo, an eighth grader at the school whose dad also had Mr. Mazza, the hard work Mr. Mazza gives his students is ultimately purposeful.
“My dad came here from public school in the seventh grade, and his first teacher was Mr. Mazza. “To this day, he has stories about how Mr. Mazza was strict but also changed his life for the better.
To learn more about how you can help make a Catholic education possible for thousands of students across Brooklyn and Queens, visit futuresineducation.org.