LAUREN MAZZARI
ASSISTANT HEAD OF
SCHOOL/ENGLISH AND
FORENSICS TEACHER,
LACORDAIRE ACADEMY
DIRECT QU
“In Mrs. Mazzari’sOclTaE:ss,
feel like the only one in you
room. I’m very fortuna the
have her as an all-aroute to
role model.” nd
MA
RIA GAGLIAN
O
BLOOMFIELD ,
CHALKBOARD ART: THINKSTOCK
INTRODUCTION: Lauren Mazzari
received her teaching certification from
Montclair State University, and her master’s degree in education administration
from Caldwell College. When her two
sons were young, she volunteered in the
Montclair public schools, and trained
public school teachers in Newark; 19
years ago, she was hired as an English
teacher at Lacordaire. Both sons, now
23 and 21, are graduates of the school.
THREE ACTS: For grades 5 through 8,
Mazzari developed the process approach
to writing, in which students identify their
own errors through a positively-reinforced
revision process. She created the writing
curriculum for grades 1 through 8, part of
which involves sixth graders helping Pre-K
students compose and illustrate their own
stories. She also beefed up the pre-existing forensics (public speaking) program.
MAJOR LEAGUE: In North Jersey
Junior Forensics League competitions,
Lacordaire’s team has placed first 11
times, and in the top three for the last 15
matchups. Participants deliver three-tofive minutes of memorized material, and
are judged on their voices, poise, interpretation, eye contact and memorization. Mazzari served as league president
for more than eight years.
THE PLAY’S THE THING: Mazzari’s
Readers Theater helps students’ comprehension skills by allowing them to read
material aloud. She also launched the
school’s Shakespeare Festival, a nowbeloved tradition. “Some people thought
I was crazy to teach Shakespeare to middle schoolers, but they love the humor
of it,” she says.
WHAT SPEAKS TO HER: “I enjoy the
interaction with the students, and the
ability to be creative with my lessons,”
says Mazzari. “My favorite thing is sixth
grade English, because my sense of
humor is at about the same level.” ➤