Teacher Spotlight - Mr. Azzolini

By Curren Thumm and Brady Barnes

The Business Academy at High School South has so far thrived since its formation in 2017. As students in this academy, we have witnessed firsthand all of the effort and dedication that the teachers and staff put into making this program the best that it could possibly be. This year, the academy has added a new business teacher named Mr. Azzolini. We sat down with him to discuss various topics involving himself and the 2021-22 school year:

What led you to work at the High School South Business Academy?

I graduated from Seton Hall in 2015 with both a degree in accounting and finance. I also worked as a tax accountant for four years. I really wanted to bring my business experiences to

the academy and help the students relate what they learn from the classroom to the real world.

What exactly do you teach, and why do you think it’s important for students to learn about?

So I teach two classes, marketing, and business practicum. The marketing class is super important for students, especially if they’re getting into business specifically for marketing. If you have a product or an idea, and you really want to sell or promote it, then understanding marketing is key. It’s also important because you need to know how to market your product and figure out who exactly your target audience is. Even if you’re not going into business, it’s important to know how to market yourself. A few of my specialties are making resumes, cover letters, and teaching others how to interview correctly. When you find yourself looking for a job one day, you really need to know how to market yourself to these employers who want to potentially hire you. Knowing how to do these things is critical, and all things I teach in my business classes.

Why did you decide to go down the business pathway in the first place?

When I was in college, I had a few cousins that really recommended that I go down the business pathway. They were already in business at the time and seemed to really feel fulfilled by it. Once I made my decision, I took business classes that I really enjoyed. It was overall a great experience. When I was actually working in business, I met an amazing boss with who I still stay in contact. He may even be a guest speaker at some point. I also want to include that my parents worked in education, and so did many of my other family members. I always thought that education would be a great pathway, so being able to share my business experience while also working in education is a dream come true.

What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I really enjoy playing video games with my friends, and we usually play through an app called Discord. I like watching Marvel movies and also the Fast and Furious series. My friends and I take trips out to see them, and then after usually go to Applebees. It’s always a great time, and I was lucky that I’ve maintained the same group of friends from college.

Is there anything in particular that you’re looking forward to this year?

I’m really looking forward to just gaining that teaching experience. I used to teach the careers class at Intermediate East, and It went incredibly well. I’m sure that it will go equally as well here at High School South. I’m also looking forward to seeing more of the school events. The spirit here is like nothing I’ve ever seen. When I attended the home football game, I was amazed by the chants and just the overall environment. It was honestly unbelievable. The business academy is also having a couple of upcoming events that I’m very excited about.

Is there anything about your style of teaching that you believe engages and educates your students the best?

I try and incorporate a lot of hands-on activities. Marketing students greatly benefit from these activities and projects. My students are actually able to make ads and design products. I believe this really helps the students get an overall feel of marketing. Marketing is so much more than just a quiz and a test. I really try to have fun with it. I keep the classroom high energy and continue to respect the students. I’ve been really happy with how things have been going so far.

Are there any concluding remarks that you have for the High School South students and staff?

I’ve been loving the spirit and I think the students should really try and respect their teachers as much as possible. Things like keeping your masks up and keeping your earbuds out of your ears really help out a lot. I just know that this is going to be an amazing school year.