For our next installment of the Feature-A-Teacher Series, meet Ms. Judith Ragotzkie! Currently a first-grade teacher at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School, she will be retiring at the end of this year. She has been with the District for over 35 years and has made many sweet memories along the way!
In today’s Q&A, she gives some advice for future teachers and talks a bit about what she has learned from her students while at RCS. Thank you, Ms. Ragotzkie, for all you have done over the years to support our RCS students and their education!
Can you tell RCS a little bit about yourself?
I began my teaching career at RCS in September 1985. I taught Spanish at the Middle School, one year of Kindergarten, and from there, first grade.
I am married and have two children. I love to be with my family and friends. We have always had a family dog. I love to go to the gym and work out pretty much every day. In the summer, I enjoy planting flowers and mowing my lawn. I also like to take a summer vacation and go to Wildwood, New Jersey, to boogie board and ride bikes on the boardwalk.
What makes you passionate about teaching? Why do you enjoy it?
I used to play school when I was a young girl with my dolls. I had a chalkboard and a desk and lots of books. I used to have so much fun!
Every day I still enjoy coming to work and being with the children. We laugh and have fun, learn our academics, and many life lessons along the way. Our school district has always been very innovative, which has helped me to continue to grow as a learner along with the children. Before a blink of an eye, the school day and school year has ended.
What advice would you give to a student who would like to be a teacher or work in the education field one day?
My advice to a future educator would be to treat your students like they are your own children, and then you can’t go wrong.
Also, to take the time to really listen to them and have fun with them. Be sure to develop a good rapport with the parents because they want what is best for them too!
What have your students taught you?
My students have taught me how to be a great Mom with my own kids. My students have also shown me how to be flexible and patient because sometimes things might not always go as planned. They have also taught me how to laugh at myself.
Finally, what’s your favorite memory as an educator at RCS?
My favorite memory is all my first and last days of school for the past 35-plus years of teaching at RCS. The first days were filled with excitement and wonder, and the last days were always bittersweet for me as another first-grade journey had come to an end.
This June will be a very bittersweet ending to the school year as it will be the final day of my teaching career at RCS.
