Ms. Scher was one of the math teachers at the school, teaching it for over 20 years. She and Mr. Zarro previously worked alongside each other, teaching IB math together.
“We had a shared vision as to wanting to challenge our students and to push them and make them better,” Zarro said.
They collaborated extremely well together, both creating a majority of the lesson plans taught today. However, she didn’t just contribute to the school community by creating presentations. She had a positive impact on all of the individuals in the building.
“She just always had a positive attitude for us,” said Zarro. “You could hear her laugh down the hall. Everyone knew who Ms. Scher was, and we talked to her, and she would talk to anybody.”
Ms. Scher was two doors down from Mr. Zarro. In between periods, when standing in the hallway, Mr. Zarro was able to look down and talk to her almost every day. For him, it was a supportive colleague at work that gave him something to look forward to.
“It’s just nice to have a friend at work. It’s nice to have someone that when you’re having a bad day you can go vent with them,” Zarro said. “Even when you know it’s gonna be…a bad day, there was something positive there.”
Aside from being a true friend for her coworkers, she was also a positive influence for her students. Ms. Scher loved math, and everyone could tell by how engaging and inspiring she was to her students.
“She wanted the best for her students…and she was able to hit the kids where they needed it,” Zarro said.
As stated above, Ms. Scher taught at the school for over 20 years. But Zarro’s absolute favorite memories included something called “Grumpy Hour,” which often occurred on Friday afternoons.
“I would say going and sitting in Wendy’s, and eating a frost and having some French fries and just enjoying each other’s company as friends and not even thinking about school,” Zarro said. “It was nice to talk about families, shared complaints about our own children sometimes or spouses, but also the joys that they brought us…and just getting to know her as a person.”
Maddie Caramanica is a sophomore at the school who had Ms. Scher for Intensified Algebra Two last year. Caramanica reflects on her class with Ms. Scher and her teaching style.
“She had a way about her teaching that resonated with me. I was able to retain the information a lot better. She let us break out into groups, and would put us in these table groups, which allowed us to meet new people,” Caramanica said.
Ms. Scher taught with positivity, kindness and emphasized community. Her classroom was a safe and welcoming environment throughout stressful, busy times.
“She always was a very positive person. Anytime somebody was upset in her class, she would try to make them feel better. She was always a ball of sunshine, even at the end of the day. I had her seventh period, and she was always very nice to all the students, and always in a positive mood, even if she wasn’t feeling 100%. She tried her best to have friendships or relationships with the students, going beyond just being a teacher. She was kind to everybody and made people feel happier about themselves,” Caramanica said.
Ms. Scher made sure her students weren’t solely focused on academics. She incorporated many elements of fun into the classroom.
“I remember, around the holidays, she would give us stuff. For Halloween, she gave us these halloween erasers. For other holidays, she would always give us some sort of sweet treat. I thought it was a really nice gesture for all of her students, even when a lot of people didn’t give her anything in return. She was just always so kind,” Caramanica said.
Ms. Scher was also a coach for the It’s Academic Team at the school, in which students compete with other schools in academic trivia questions. She coached alongside Ms. Sotomayor, a biology teacher at the school. The two coached together for 14 years, supporting many students who participated in the club.
“She absolutely loved coaching the team as we met religiously every Thursday after school,” said Sotomayor. “She enjoyed quietly working through math problems in her head with ease and was so proud of the team when they got the answers right.”
Ms. Scher fostered an encouraging and supportive environment within the club. Her small acts of kindness were greatly appreciated and helped bring the team together as one force.
“We fondly remember the weekly cookies she brought to practice -it was such a small but meaningful way she showed how much she cared about the team,” said Sotomayor.
Ms. Sotomayor recalls the energy that Ms. Scher brought to the 4th floor, which could be felt by both students and teachers. As stated by Zarro, Ms. Scher was known for her warmth and kindness, which affected many.
“Her laugh was contagious [you could hear her from a mile away], her smile welcoming, and her presence comforting,” said Sotomayor.
Ms. Scher’s warmth has left a great impact throughout the school community and beyond. She will continue to be remembered and cherished for her engaging, magnetic personality.
“Ms. Scher has left a legacy in all the students she taught,” said Sotomayor. “She truly loved working with the team, and she was so proud of their curiosity, teamwork, and dedication. She believed deeply in academic competition not just as a game, but as a community. A place for you to gather after school and make friends, laugh, be silly and enjoy trivia.”
