Over 1.4 million math teachers currently teach in the U.S., and Natalie Kasmarek is one of them.
Kasmarek, as a first-year teacher and alumna, began her teaching career at Ocean Lakes with the 2024-2025 year.
She graduated from Ocean Lakes in 2019 and decided to continue her studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT).
Kasmarek went into VT with a certified position in the VBCPS system thanks to the Virginia Teachers For Tomorrow (VTFT) teaching contract.
VTFT is a program that enables students to intern as teachers part-time. This allows the student to have a better understanding of the classroom dynamic and all that goes into it. The contract is given to two VTFT students per school program, and guarantees a teaching position once they graduate college.
“I was the only first-year teacher, [and] I was a little bit intimidated by that. They all had experience with a whole classroom before or had done grade books, and those are things that I had never done,” Kasmarek said, “It is just so different from student teaching. Having your own classroom is full of experiences that are unexpected.”
Many first-year teachers are faced with challenges including declining student engagement, lack of support and resources and burnout. Kasmarek has many supporters that have praised her work, including junior Nathan Lala who had her as teacher last semester.
“She did very good for her first year teaching; she taught like she’s been there for 10+ years,” Nathan said. “I think my favorite thing [from her class] was [that] she made everything enjoyable to learn.”
She does not only receive appraisal from students, but she’s also highly acclaimed by staff.
“I think [Kasmarek] has made a great start to her time at Ocean Lakes. She is passionate and enthusiastic, she has teaching [that] focuses on building a strong relationship with students,” fellow math teacher Jack Bayliss said. “She’s a teacher who is especially open-minded and willing to try a variety of strategies to help her students to proceed.”
