Spotlight on: Brianne Bello
May 2025 High School Teacher of the Month
The Student Council decides monthly student and teacher awards with a specific category each month. The category for May 2025 was “spring athlete” for students and “most deserving” for teachers.
The Senior Student of the Month awards go to two seniors per month who are nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-11.
The High School Teacher of the Month award goes to one teacher per month who is nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-12. All Teachers of the Month become eligible to become Teacher of the Year in June.
The May 2025 Senior Students of the Month are Rylie Biamonte and Brady Saunders, and the May 2025 High School Teacher of the Month is Brianne Bello.
Below is a Q&A with Brianne Bello:
Subject/Grade Level: Grades 6-12, Library Media Specialist
Q. What do you love most about teaching?
A. What I love the most about teaching is being part of a community that genuinely cares about others.
Q. How do you create a positive and inclusive classroom environment?
A. I create a positive and inclusive classroom environment by fostering strong relationships, encouraging open conversation and offering choices. I invest in resources that represent all different groups of people as well as topics that reflect students’ personal interests and identities to make them feel seen and included. I hope that all of my students know that the library is a place where they are welcome – whether they’re looking for a great book, a source for a research paper, someone to listen or even just a friendly “hello” to start their day. I feel very lucky that I am in the position to be able to do these things for them.
Q. What’s a lesson or unit you’re especially proud of this year?
A. One lesson I’m especially proud of was a 12th grade English collaboration where we ran a library scavenger hunt. I created a Google Form for students to fill out where they had to recognize reliable and unreliable narrators in order to get a string of clues. These clues led them to book characters that were hidden in the library stacks. I love when I get to challenge myself with technology and make interactive, engaging lessons.
Q. In what ways do you support the school community outside your classroom?
A. Outside my classroom, I co-advise High School Yearbook, advise Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), chaperone dances for Student Council and integrate public library resources into our curriculum. I enjoy participating in events like the faculty basketball game and to attend events for our students such as the musicals, after-prom lock-in and graduation.
Q. Describe a moment when you felt especially proud to be a teacher.
A. I felt especially proud to be a teacher a handful of years ago when I was asked to introduce one of my former students at her graduation ceremony. Knowing that she chose me as the educator who impacted the time she spent here growing up and wanted me to provide a message to send her off into adulthood is something that I will always cherish.
Q. What does being nominated as “Most Deserving” Teacher of the Month mean to you?
A. Being chosen for this category in particular means so much to me both personally and professionally. My role as a library media specialist is a small niche in our world today and an even smaller niche in the educational world, and because of this, sometimes I feel like facets of my job are often overlooked or misunderstood. I truly believe in the core values of my profession. I am so thankful that I have a school community that supports me and respects the work I do every day for our staff and students, and being nominated for this category affirms that commitment.
Q. Who or what inspires your teaching?
A. I’m inspired by the educators and my favorite coach who made a difference in my own life, as well as by my colleagues. I work with some truly wonderful humans, and I am so grateful for the chance to get to learn with them and from them.
Q. What’s a fun fact your students might not know about you?
A. When “Mockingjay”was first published, one of my favorite people brought me to meet author Suzanne Collins at a very small bookstore where she was hosting a book signing. Hearing her read the first chapter of her book aloud was such a cool experience.
Q. Favorite book, quote or classroom motto?
A. “You are helpful, and you are loved, and you are forgiven, and you are not alone.” -John Green
Q. Dream field trip destination?
A. The pyramids in Egypt! I’ve always wanted to travel there to see them in person.