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News | 28 May 2024

Who is Stephen Kozinski?

It's time to get to know all the teachers and staff who will meet the students at IES Norrtälje in the autumn! Next up is science and English teacher Stephen Kozinski, who likes to draw and might be getting a turtle at some point.

What did you do before you started at IES Norrtälje?
I am a Technological Education graduate from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

What’s the best thing about your job?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is witnessing the spark of excitement in students as they delve into projects and discover their passions.

What are you most looking forward to when the school has opened?
As we anticipate the fall term, I eagerly await the chance to meet my students and help create a welcoming atmosphere in our new facility.

Which one is your favourite song right now?
My favourite song right now is “In The Meantime" by Resident Alien. I can listen to it at any point in my day and it always puts me in a good mood.

Do you have any pets?
I don’t have any pets but I really like both cats and dogs and could definitely see myself getting one, one day… maybe a turtle too!

Tell something about yourself not many people know.
Something not many people know about me is that from ages 9-12 I had to wear a headgear to fix an underbite in my jaw. So for three years I had a big metal bar going from my chin to my forehead day and night. I was lucky to have such supportive teachers and classmates, they made it so much easier and I even gave a speech about my headgear in front of the whole school!

What was your favourite subject in school?
My favourite subject was always gym, I can be very competitive!

Do you have any dreams for the future?
In the future, I would love to have my own studio, where I can both create and host people to create everything from t-shirts to short films.

What do you do outside of work?
Outside of work I like to draw, play sports and read. Tennis and hockey are my two favourite sports.

What do you do to peak the children's interest and desire to learn new things?
To get students to be interested in learning new things, I lead by example, I think it’s really important to always be trying new things!

What is your favourite memory with your students?
My best memory with my students would have to be putting on a “Horror Film Festival” in the school during Halloween. They were all so excited and it was honestly the best film festival I’ve ever been to. I was really proud of all the students who were brave enough to put themself up on the big screen and for how much effort they put into their films.