L. Baccari

Having come from a family of teachers, oddly enough I did not start my career in teaching until later in my life.  Leaving an unfulfilling career as a CPA, I had finally discovered my fascination with the human brain, how it functions, and how to nurture, correct and strengthen the process of learning in people of all ages.  I’ve been a full time Special Education teacher at MS 118 for the past 18 years, but I have also been an adjunct professor of education at Mercy College, as well as an Early Intervention Specialist with children ages 2- 3 years old.  I love unraveling the process learning for my students, and find it especially gratifying to help those who struggle to do so, which is why I love the field of Special Education.  You are given the opportunity every single day to make such a huge positive impact in the lives of your students, many times without even realizing it or it not being revealed until many years later when previous students come back “home” to visit.  This impact rarely stops at developing students academically, which is why out of all ages/grade levels I’ve taught, middle school students are what I am most passionate about.  So many life changes, new experiences and feelings to interact with and navigate through, especially in this current age of technology and social media – it can be and often is exciting as well as overwhelming for young folks to deal with without the support of strong, caring adults in their lives to bridge them over into rigorous demands of high school and live beyond.  Teaching truly is my passion, and it must be genetic – as we speak, my oldest daughter is a junior in college, following in her momma’s footsteps. . .