When Angelina Meier was a high school student in Middletown, she decided she would be a math teacher. When she told her math teacher at the time, his response was she would never do it.

Fast forward a few years. Mrs. Meier had finished high school and graduated from college with her degree to teach math. Her first job was as a substitute math teacher back in Middletown for her former teacher who said she would never be a math teacher.

“I ran into him and told him thanks,” said Mrs. Meier, always one to take the high road. His advice didn’t change her goals; instead, it encouraged her to follow her dream.

On Thursday evening, May 12, Mrs. Meier received the Excellence in Teaching award from the Mid-Hudson School Study Council, an award for which she was nominated by her peers.

“I was only a good math student because I worked hard at it,” said Mrs. Meier. And that has served her well as a middle school math teacher for the past 32 years at Circleville Middle School.

“In the beginning of the year, I can tell who doesn’t like math,” she said. “I work at it with them. I get them on my side and show them they can be successful. If I can get a kid to try, I build that relationship and I can teach. I break it all down for my students.”

Several of Mrs. Meier’s colleagues wrote letters of support for her nomination. Romulo Gabriel, who has worked with her for the past eight years, called his colleague a master teacher.

“The master teachers held in the highest regard are those that teach their fellow colleagues impactful lessons in the profession as well,” said Gabriel. “Without a doubt, everyone that has worked with Angie, both students and teachers alike, have been influenced by her skills, command of the classroom and dedication to her profession.”

Mrs. Meier currently teaches students whose math abilities run the gamut from those who struggle to those who are academically gifted.

“For both ends of the spectrum, as well as for everyone in between, Mrs. Meier is available and willing to assist,” said her colleague of 20 years, Holly Shader. “I can honestly say that there is no teacher more dedicated to the success of her students. She has students working in her classroom every day during lunch, as well as several days after school. During the pandemic, Angie communicated with her students via Google meets, texts and phone calls. She truly went above and beyond what was expected, always focusing on what was best for the students.”

Mrs. Meier has many success stories over her 32 years at CVMS. One that stands out is when she had a student who just immigrated from Russia. She was very advanced in math but there was the obvious language issue.

“We developed a special bond,” said Mrs. Meier. “We ate lunch together every day in my classroom. I introduced her to Pop Tarts!”

Despite being new to the country with no real friends and language issues, this student scored a 90 on her math Regents. “Numbers are universal. She could do it!”

Years later as a student at NYU, this young woman credited Mrs. Meier with being integral to her success by submitting her name for an award, which Mrs. Meier won.

“It’s so important to try and build relationships and be a good person all the time,” said Mrs. Meier. “The kids change me as much as I change them.”

Mrs. Meier arrives at CVMS each day around 6 a.m. and stays until 5 p.m. “I have a special agreement with the custodians,” she chuckled. Her students know she can be reached into the evening if needed. “That’s my job, that’s what I do,” she said. “I say, ‘what would I want to happen for my children?’ Let’s figure out a way we can make this work. We are a family here.”

 

She truly gets tremendous joy and satisfaction from her profession.

“When I put my head down on that pillow at night, I’ve done what I can do and look forward to doing it again.”

Not surprisingly, Mrs. Meier was very humble about her award. She credits the wonderful students she teaches and her faith in God for giving her such a fulfilling career. “God had a plan for me.”

She admittedly does not like change. “I hate it, really.” But she embraced it during the COVID-19 pandemic. She calls herself a “chalk and talk girl” but the pandemic didn’t allow that. “I became a better teacher over the last couple of years. I had to embrace technology. I learned change is okay and now I have a plan B and C if needed. You figure out the best way to have change affect you positively.”

One positive change that will happen for Mrs. Meier is more time with her family. She will be retiring at the end of this school year. “Now it’s time for me to spend more time with my family.”

That includes her husband of 33 years, Doug. They have three grown children, twin sons and a daughter. All her children are in the medical field. “We are here to help others,” she notes. She also has grandchildren she plans to visit more often after retirement, when she and her husband travel a bit. One of her sons is getting married in July. She will certainly stay busy.

Looking back, she has immense gratitude for her family, her colleagues, the parents, and especially her students who have been such an important part of her life. “I thank everyone. I thank my lord for the opportunity and for blessing my family. It takes a village to raise our kids. It also takes a village to educate them.”

Thank goodness Mrs. Meier was part of our village.