Monday, May 1, 2017
As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re spotlighting some of the wonderful teachers in MPS!
Positivity and passion are two qualities Rebecca Sweeney says she loves to bring to her work. Rebecca is an Early Childhood Special Education teacher at Hayes Bilingual School who is wrapping up her second year of teaching and her first year with Milwaukee Public Schools.
“My mother was a high school Spanish teacher, and she was always an inspiration to me,” Rebecca shared. “She exudes passion and positivity in her life, which I share and admire. I have always been impressed with how she saw the best in every student, even the most challenging ones.”
Rebecca grew up in Shorewood and credits her AP English teacher, Mr. Wiswall, for helping her to be prepared for college. “He had a great sense of humor, helped me gain a deeper appreciation for literature, and prepared me more for college than all of my other teachers combined.”
When she is not in the classroom, Rebecca enjoys running, and volunteers with Girls on the Run. She will be a Running Buddy for the fourth time this spring. She also loves to travel, and plans to visit Kenya this summer.
Rebecca believes that her most important role as a teacher is to build positive relationships. She is fond of a quote by Maya Angelou that sets the tone for her work with her students: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
