By: Andreale Mitchell ’24
This year, Rebecca Socha started as one of the new English teachers here at DHS. In the days leading up to the beginning of the school year, she was very excited. Socha attended UConn college and graduated in the class of 2021. Before working here at Derby High School, she worked a few educational jobs around Connecticut, and before that, at a farmers market and pet store.
She describes herself as a patient, quirky, and optimistic person. She feels that a teacher’s personality plays a big role in their teaching. Socha states, “You can be an ‘expert’ at something, but if you can’t get your students to like you, it is harder to make a connection with them.”
In Socha’s high school years she was not always a big fan of her English classes but over time she learned to find things she did enjoy and gradually began to like them. She wants to help her students find what they like just as she did. While in high school she also enjoyed cooking/baking and reading.
Fun fact! Socha has a neurological condition called synthesia, meaning her numbers and letters are color coded! For example, S is pink, A is red, and M is blue. She can visualize the colors and it helps her with memorization.
At the beginning of the school year, Socha was nervous that her students would not take her seriously because, just like her students, she is still learning herself. Their opinions were much different, though. Jamie Orazetti ‘25 described her class[room] as very feminine but comfortable. Orazetti says, “ I don’t really like English, but Ms. Socha makes it bearable.” Orazetti’s first impression of Socha was that she was patient and funny. She feels she is very comfortable with Miss Socha and is excited for the rest of the year with her.
Derby High School is very lucky to have one of our few new teachers, Rebecca Socha, she is a warm-hearted, generous and thoughtful person and a wonderful addition to our school, welcome!
The Raider Press 