New biology teacher Kelsey Brentnall graduated from Pascack Valley in 2013. She then attended the Ramapo College of New Jersey, all on her path to making her way back to PV. 

“I majored in bio and art at Ramapo. I originally thought that I wanted to be a scientific illustrator or a medical illustrator for textbooks,” Brentnall said. “In the last semester of my senior year, I was like ‘wait I don’t actually want to do that.’”

After receiving her Master’s, Brentnall taught biology and other biological science electives at Glen Rock High School.

“I love how applicable biology is to real life,” Brentnall said. “Like if you are going to a doctor appointment, you need to have some sort of fundamental knowledge of biology to really know what they are talking about. Biology is super important to know related to the environment and environmental changes now.”

Alison Petaccia, Nancy Ricca, Maria Hinrichsen, and Shawn Buchanan were “big inspirations” for Brentnall.

“Ms. Brentnall was a student at PV that always fostered and maintained great relationships with her peers and teachers,” Petaccia said. “We are thrilled to have her back at PV teaching science where I know she will pay it forward by building solid connections with her own students.”

Petaccia says that Brentnall is going to make an impact on her students’ lives, both inside and outside of the classroom.

“I was a really hard worker in high school and college, and I thought I had to do more than teach,” Brentnall said. “I thought I had to do something unique and interesting, and teaching was boring. I always knew that I loved teaching. I would teach art classes and stuff like that on the side. I knew if I became a teacher, it wouldn’t be like working; it would be doing something that I love. I sort of just gave in to what I knew I wanted to do.”

Brentnall believes that connecting with students is the most essential part of teaching. Brentnall says that forming a personal connection with students helps to make students want to engage with the curriculum. 

When asked why Brentnall chose to come back to PV, Brentnall immediately responded with “Why not come back to PV?”

“I mean there are so many awesome things about PV,” Brentnall said. “Everyone is so nice, all the administration, all the other teachers. Everyone is so helpful. There are so many different resources here that allow you to be the best teacher you can be.”