Ms. Zanki and Mr. Russo Join the English Team

Welcome back Cliffside Park High School students and staff! I wish you all a great school year. This year, we have a lot of new teachers in all departments, and you may have seen some of them around the school or in your classrooms. The English department is welcoming two new teachers this year, Mr. Russo and Ms. Zanki.

From Hunter College, we have Ms. Zanki, who will be teaching an academic writing course for freshmen and Latin American Literature, which is available for seniors. Ms. Zanki majored in English as an undergraduate, and after graduating she worked in the fashion industry for nearly ten years. Later on, she decided to get her master’s degree in Atleson Education because she always liked working with younger people. Ms. Zanki is excited to be working here at CPHS. She is grateful to all of the staff members and students who have been welcoming toward her, making her feel less nervous. Ms. Zanki recalls that when she was in high school, she always loved being in class, especially her English classes. One fun fact about Ms. Zanki is that she loves to travel. She has been all around the world, with two of her favorite places being Rome and England because of the ancient history and Britsh Romantic poetry. Ms. Zanki is thrilled to be here and eager to get to know all of her students.

One of my personal favorite teachers is Mr. Russo, the new English teacher for freshmen, sophomores, and seniors. Mr. Russo graduated from Rutgers University, and this year will be his 13th year of teaching. This is Mr. Russo’s first time teaching high schoolers, and he notes that he is often reminded of his own days in high school, when he was not the best student. Mr. Russo also shared his belief that high school does not define a person. Outside of teaching Mr. Russo likes to practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as martial arts is a passion of his. Mr. Russo said that he is different from other teachers in that he values forming relationships with his students that are built on mutual trust and respect. The staff and students have been nice to him, making him feel more welcome and excited about what his first year in CPHS will bring.

Hopefully you got to know more about Mr. Russo and Ms. Zanki and what they offer to our school.