Victoria Good

Victoria Good moved to Altoona last year for a long-term sub position and fell in love with the area and everything the high school had to offer. Now, Good co-teaches English 10 with Alyssa Fasolo and Nichole Harris as a learning support teacher.

Good graduated from Mount Aloysius College with a degree in English literature, specializing in secondary education. Although Good is currently working at Altoona, she is still attending Youngstown State University in order to receive her masters degree to become an Intervention Specialist. Prior to Altoona, Good worked briefly at the Richland High School and at the Hollidaysburg Junior High School. 

To Good, the difference between middle school and high school is vast, but the struggles of online teaching bring some new challenges as well. 

The greatest challenges come from the lack of physical involvement and connection with the students. Good, like many students and teachers, misses the face to face interactions with her students. 

“I think virtual teaching makes it really hard to get to know your students. I can’t see my students and learn about their different personalities. This makes it hard to tailor our activities to their interests. It also takes some of the fun out of hearing about how my student’s days are going and if they have anything interesting to share with the class,” Good said.

However, Good sees the positives within virtual education.

“I think it’s a challenge for everyone, but will be a great learning experience. While it’s not ideal because we cannot see our students face to face, I think students are learning vital skills that will be useful after they graduate from high school,” Good said.

Even if circumstances have changed for learning, as a teacher, Good realizes how important it is during these times to stay connected with one another. Good hopes to do this by sharing her love for reading with her students.

“I think every teacher needs to show how passionate they are about what they teach. I genuinely love exploring the different novels with my students and find joy when a student shares what they are reading or watching that ‘light bulb moment’ occur when a student understands what I am teaching them. I am so enthusiastic and believe in greeting every student as they enter my classroom, even if that’s through Google Meet right now,” Good said.

Good’s devotion to her students stems from her love of reading and teaching, specifically her excitement for the subject of English.

“I realized I wanted to be an English teacher when I was in high school. I had two English teachers who completely changed my future by creating a passion in me for reading and writing. As I began my previous school year, I was completely new to Special Education. However, I saw how much of a greater impact I could have on my students by working in this department, combining my love of English with finding a way to teach students that best meets their needs,” Good said.

English class is just one of the many things that Good enjoys; however, because of quarantine the time and ability to pursue most of her interests is challenging.

“I love to travel. My biggest trip has been a 14 day excursion to Greece! I love trying the different food options, taking pictures of their landscapes and architecture, and exploring the places of interest. I am also a fan of reading and spend way too much time watching Netflix,” Good said.