By ADITI RAMANATHAN
Newly hired science teacher Jessica Leydon-Tremblay, follows her passion in making students confident and successful while continuing to help them build connections and apply their knowledge in her class.
Prior to working as a teacher in Jericho, Ms. Leydon-Tremblay worked in Maspeth, Queens at IS73 for 10 years. Ms. Leydon-Tremblay attended St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue where she obtained her degree in biology with a concentration in secondary education, and then obtained her graduate degree in Earth Science at LIU Post.
Her motivation to become a teacher started when she was a high school student. “My relationships with my high school teachers and club advisors really inspired me to become a teacher myself,” she said.
Her high school teachers treated her as a person first and student second, making her feel important. Inspired by that, she aims to make her students feel the same. Ms. Leydon-Tremblay debated between teaching science and Italian, but settled on biology when it was time to declare her major.
Seeing the success and hard work of her students is one of the things Ms. Leydon-Tremblay enjoys most about teaching. “I love seeing when students feel confident and successful. I feel accomplished when I see students have that ‘a-ha!’ moment when they make a connection and apply their knowledge from the content learned,” she said.
Curriculum Associate for Science and Technology Kim Libertini was quick to notice Ms. Leydon-Tremblay’s way of making relationships with students. “Ms. Leydon-Tremblay has a nice ability to connect with students right from the very beginning,” she said.
When Ms. Leydon-Tremblay was in high school, she felt comfortable and cared for, and wants to instill that same feeling in her students. She said, “I felt safe and open to be myself and always knew I had someone to go to just to talk, and that’s the type of interactions I like to have with my students as well.”
Students’ impressions of Ms. Leydon-Tremblay are positive. Jericho High School freshman Wafaa I. said, “My teacher is nice and helps me understand the curriculum.”
Outside of school, Ms. Leydon-Tremblay believes in self care. On a regular basis she likes to watch a comfort show or movie to unwind and de-stress. Furthermore, she practices mindfulness strategies such as listening to the Calm app.
Ms. Leydon-Tremblay is an enthusiastic Disney fan and loves visiting the theme parks with her children.
Photo courtesy of Ms. Leydon-Tremblay.
During vacations, Ms. Leydon-Tremblay enjoys taking her children to Disney Land and World, Sesame Place and even local fairs. She also enjoys going to the beach, pool, and on her parents’ boat. When school begins in the fall, she loves to pick apples and pumpkins.
We wish a warm welcome to Ms. Leydon-Tremblay.
