Spotlight on: Leah Zorn

Leah Zorn holding up a fish while on a boat with two children

This school year, Herkimer Central School District is focusing the Spotlight Q&A feature on Herkimer CSD alumni who are giving back to the school community by working in the district as teachers or staff.

Spotlight on: Leah Zorn
MS/HS art teacher

“I come from a long line of Herkimer graduates, so my roots run deep at HHS. I feel connected to the school that provided me with so many wonderful opportunities and memories, and in turn, I try to pass my enthusiasm for being a Magician onto my students.”

 

Q. What year did you graduate from Herkimer?

A. 1997

 

Q. What’s your favorite high school memory?

A. Winning the CSC League track and field championship.

 

Q. What led you to become a teacher?

A. I always loved art. I often helped my friends with their class projects, so it just made sense to become an art teacher. I also liked the work schedule, too!

 

Q. What else have you been doing between when you graduated from Herkimer and now?

A. After high school, I went to Herkimer County Community College to earn a degree in fine arts. Then I transferred to the College of Saint Rose and earned my bachelor’s degree in art education. While going to school, I was on the college track and field team, I worked several restaurant jobs and I even worked for a security company. I began working for the district in 2002. Since then, I have earned my master’s degree in early childhood education/sSpecial education, and I have also gotten married and had two children.

 

Q. Did anyone from Herkimer Central School District influence you in becoming who you are today?

A. Coach Clarke and Coach Steele. While they both have very different coaching styles, they each motivated me to train hard and give it my all on the cross country course/track as an athlete. With their guidance, I was able to coach cross country and track and field, alongside both of them as an adult.

 

Q. What makes you most excited or most fulfilled about working at Herkimer after previously going to school here?

A. I come from a long line of Herkimer graduates, so my roots run deep at HHS. I feel connected to the school that provided me with so many wonderful opportunities and memories, and in turn, I try to pass my enthusiasm for being a Magician onto my students. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside many of my former teachers and former students.  I am now teaching the children of many of my former HHS classmates, too. Open House often feels like a class reunion!

 

Q. What advice do you have for current Herkimer students?

A. You don’t have to like everyone, but you should be respectful towards others. You never know what hardships other people might be going through, and you also never know who your future neighbors and co-workers might be! It’s important to have positive relationships throughout your life.

 

Leah Zorn running cross country in high school

Herkimer art teacher Leah Zorn running cross country while she was a student at the high school.

 

 

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