Since 2006, Beth Bodnar has sprouted love for topics like IB Psychology and AP Government in students. She inspires passion for learning by presenting complicated topics in useful, interesting, and comprehensible ways.
Although she has not always known her path, Bodnar found a strong love for teaching across her years both before Claremont High School and during her time here.
“I never planned on being a teacher,” Bodnar said. “I kept on thinking: I am gonna do this until I get good at this, and then I will do the next thing, but teaching is a challenging and really fun job; you get new students all the time and, in government, the subject always changes, so I’ve always found it continuing to be challenging and exciting.”
Along with the everyday teaching and socializing, Bodnar shows love for rallies: specifically, the renaissance rally. She enjoys being able to praise hard-working students for their accomplishments and continuing to support these students on their path beyond CHS. In addition, one of her favorite parts of the job is meeting new students, seeing them grow, and building new friendships each year.
Although she is sad to leave her loving students, coworkers, and job that has helped define her for the past 40 years, she is thrilled to be able to live on her own time: without bells signaling her next move. During this newly earned free time, she plans to reconnect with old friends that may have lost touch over the busy years, go on exciting adventures and hikes, and continue to grow and learn however she can.
“I am taking a gap year to explore.” Bodnar said. “I am not going to commit to anything this year. I don’t have any huge plans, I just know I want to have fun, I know I want to be curious, and I am just so excited for what comes next.”
