Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is all about celebrating educators who have made a positive impact on students and honoring their hard work and dedication. While there are many different teachers at North High School who exhibit these refined traits, one teacher who sticks out among the crowd is Michelle Puleo. Ms. Puleo is a Special Education teacher who always looks out for her students, having their best interests in mind. She has become a prominent safe space for students who feel that they can share anything with her. Teachers and students alike look to her for guidance and support.

One student that has been impacted by Puleo is Junior Jaanvi Chauhan. She says, “Puleo doesn’t judge when you ask for help, she has a gentle heart, she always knows when something’s up with her students and sees the best in them. When I was having a bad day, she asked me what was wrong and listened to me, giving me good advice I will hold onto forever.”  

When asked about her favorite thing about teaching, Puleo said, “Watching students gain self-confidence and improve their self-esteem as the year progresses. Watching students be kind to one another gives you a sense of faith in humanity and the future. Students come from all sorts of backgrounds, as teachers we learn from them as well. It’s important to me to make sure that I give attention to all my students because nobody should feel left out or lonely.” Puleo has been teaching for 25 years, allowing her to meet hundreds of different students throughout her career. When asked about something she has seen often, she said, “One common thing I’ve seen throughout teaching is that students want to be heard and noticed, it has never changed.” 

When Puleo was asked to share something about teaching that she wasn’t told during college, she responded with, “The strong friendships you will make with other teachers. It's crazy when I think about how we’ve all seen each other through different stages in our lives.” Having Puleo among the many amazing teachers here at North High School emphasizes just how extraordinary the staff is.