“I like to make my classroom student-centered, where students have to be active learners, and they have to kind of figure things out, where I’m their guide,” said Lori Bodner, Hackley’s newest math teacher.

Ms. Bodner joined the Hilltop this fall as an Accelerated Algebra two teacher, excited to meet new students and connect with others in the community. She finds it important to ensure that she learns about the students so that she can create a supportive environment where they can learn.

“When I’m in class, I want to focus on the math and the discussion,” she said, “It’s hard to stop and study names, but at the same time, if I don’t have a name to a face, it’s hard to know a person. So, I’m really looking forward to a time where I know everybody’s names and I know more about the students.”

She believes her 16 years of experience teaching in New York City make her a qualified and capable person to take on this new position and successfully achieve this goal.
Diana Kaplan, Head of the Math Department attests to her abilities and noted that Ms. Bodner’s level of experience is tremendous and will prove beneficial for the Hackley Math Department.

This is something that Ms. Bodner also noted makes her special as a teacher, and highlights how she cares for and supports her students. She approaches teaching in a different way from most traditional math classrooms.

“Instead of just telling students here’s an algorithm, here’s the rule, let’s just apply it,” she said, “I like it to be kind of this collaborative environment where students are figuring things out for themselves. Kind of like discovering the math. And sometimes I think that’s a little harder or maybe a little daunting to students in the beginning, but I think ultimately that really helps them learn better and also learn how to learn, learn how to think.” she said.

Sophomore Ula Yang backed this up when she said, “I really like her teaching style because she simplifies harder concepts into simpler ones so you can understand them easier.” She also noted that she enjoyed Ms. Bodner’s use of Delta Math as a tool for further practice.

Ms. Kaplan highlighted Ms. Bodner’s classroom environment as something unique, and technologically progressive.

“She taught a demo lesson for us, that was, I thought, really well thought out. She used technology. She’s very adept with technology, and so she uses it in a way that really enhances student learning. Delta Math is a program that we’re using in a lot of math classes this year because of Ms. Bodner. So even before she started here she’s already had a huge impact on the math department.”

Ms. Bodner has already demonstrated her excitement to work with students by joining the Hackley summer program Hudson Scholars as a math teacher for the students of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

“I thought it was fantastic, first of all, it was my first time ever teaching middle school so that was really different. I thought it was really nice that Hackley gives back to the community and gives other students, non-Hackley students, an opportunity to learn at Hackley to be in a program, to gain leadership skills,” she notes. Ms. Bodner also focused on the Hudson Scholar mentors, showing her anticipation for the new school year as a high school math teacher.

Though she will only be teaching two classes, due to the young family she has at home (two kids ages 3 and 6), she has entered this new challenge full force, ready to demonstrate her abilities and excitement as the new year commences.

Students and faculty alike are more than delighted to welcome her to the Hilltop, holding high hopes for how she might contribute to our students in the present and future.