Educating students is the primary job of a teacher. There are many factors that contribute to educating and one of the most important is keeping your students engaged and connected. This is a necessity because if students aren’t engaged with class, or lectures they will not retain information. This may be a struggle for many teachers, but for a teacher like Sayna Monadjemi, who is constantly praised for her ability to engage and connect with students, it is a non-issue.

Monadjemi is a biology teacher here at Emerson. For subjects like biology, which may be lecture heavy at times, helping students remain engaged and retain information may prove to be difficult at times. However, Monadjemi manages to keep her classes engaged and learning even through long-winded lectures. 

Jackson Dailey, 9, said, “She’s a really fun and caring person. She’s very interested in the topics she’s teaching and very passionate, so everything flows along smoothly.” Dailey’s statement attests to Monadjemi’s teaching ability. Through her caring nature for her students, and her genuine passion for Biology she keeps class interesting and informative.

Monadjemi doesn’t only make an impact during class time, she also helps students feel welcomed in unfamiliar surroundings. For some students at Emerson who are struggling to become fluent in English. Monadjemi’s ability to communicate with students who speak Farsi helps harbour a sense of community even if they struggle to speak with their peers or other teachers.

 “We have quite a few newcomers from Iran this year that are still working on learning English and aren’t the most confident. I think being able to speak with them in their own language helps them feel like they belong and like they’re at home, and if they’re having trouble communicating with their peers who don’t speak their language it helps me communicate with them,” Monadjemi said.  

Monadjemi was interested in biology in high school; she found the study of life intriguing. She was torn between choosing teaching or going into a medical occupation. Eventually she settled on teaching, deciding that helping students learn and grow was her calling. 

“More than anything I really hope to help them with their confidence, knowing what they want and going for it. I really hope that other than just academics I can emphasize the importance of hobbies, working out and overall a healthy lifestyle,” Monadjemi said.

She hopes to continue fostering the growth and education of students, and she hopes they can find something they’re passionate about, as much as she is passionate about biology. She plans to remain at Emerson and desires to impact her students and those around her in a positive way.

Monadjemi said, “I have taught at Emerson ever since I started teaching and I haven’t left because I really love all the students, all the people I work with and the culture here at Emerson is amazing. Overall, it feels like a place I belong, and I feel like I’m making a positive impact,  I love it.”