Envision growing up with a passion for history, fueled further by the perspective of a war veteran, able to answer any curiosities you may have about the world before your existence. This was the reality for Hampton Bays High School’s new history teacher, Ms. Forman. Her grandfather, who served in the U.S. Navy, inspired her love for this field and her particular interest in WWII. Acting as her walking history textbook, her grandfather would be “constantly spitting out information” regarding history, whether a question was asked or not, Ms. Forman stated.
Leading up to her work as an educator, Ms. Forman had attended St. Joseph’s University as a history major following her established interest. She states that she enjoyed meeting other students in the history department and learning about their unique backgrounds while attending the university. During her time there, she also gained an appreciation for the special education field while doing observation hours at East Islip High School. This led her to pursue the subject for her master’s degree and utilize the skills learned through an alternate path here at Hampton Bays
After graduating from St. Joseph’s, Ms. Forman worked at Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School as a permanent substitute teacher. During her time there, she worked with a resource room and became a stagecraft leave replacement twice, allowing her to meet a variety of different students throughout all grade levels.
Like many students here at Hampton Bays, Ms. Forman enjoys listening to punk rock music, with two of her favorite bands being the All-American Rejects and Mayday Parade. Furthermore, her love for these bands extends past just listening to them on the radio or streaming services, with her having seen both of them live in concert.
Compared to Ms. Forman’s experience at East Islip and ESM, two schools that are significantly larger than Hampton Bays, she considers Hampton Bays to have more of a “family vibe,” given the size of the school and the support students are given. Within this support system, two things that really stuck out to her were Katie’s Closet and the My Story Project, as she hadn’t seen anything quite like them at previous districts. These factors contribute to why Ms. Forman is excited to join our teaching body and explore more of what Hampton Bays has to offer.
