As the school year comes to a close, the Princeton Day School community prepares to say farewell to Ms. Pirozzi, a long-standing Latin teacher. She first joined the school shortly after graduating from college, stepping in as a leave replacement. While her role was originally meant to be temporary, Ms. Pirozzi stayed longer than expected, saying, “the students at PDS have so much joy and creativity, which made teaching here an incredible opportunity.”
During her time at PDS, Ms. Pirozzi was known for creating a classroom environment that was both supportive and engaging. She placed a strong emphasis on building connections with students and making them feel comfortable: “The most rewarding part has absolutely been forming connections with students at such a pivotal point in their lives. Whether it was through Latin or something else, I always appreciated when students started to feel at home in my classroom.” One of Ms. Pirozzi’s favorite units to teach was Greco-Roman mythology. She enjoyed how unpredictable the stories could be and how students became so engaged with them, explaining, “there’s an endless amount of weird, shocking, and scandalous stories to teach, and the students’ reactions never fail to make me laugh.”
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Pirozzi appreciated the community within her department. She described the Classical and Modern Languages team as “a little family,” and said her colleagues played an important role in shaping her experience at PDS. When asked how she hopes to be remembered, she shared, “I hope they remember me as a person. I’ve always told my students that I’m just as human as they are. I mess up and make mistakes just like them, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Pirozzi plans to spend more time on creative writing projects, but hopes to stay connected to education in some way. Her final advice to students is simple: “Even when life seems entirely against you, keep going. There will be brighter days ahead, even if you can’t see them yet.” Though she may be leaving the classroom, Ms. Pirozzi’s impact—through her teaching and care—will stay with the students and colleagues who had the chance to learn from her.
