The new school year yielded many new things—a new building from the completed construction, a new bell schedule from the Fairfax County school board and new curricula and faculty members in each department.
Angela Rizzo is somewhat new to the biology department, as this is her second year at Marshall. However, now she is teaching three biology courses full time: Biology 1, Biology 1 Honors, and IB Higher Level Biology II full time this year, as opposed to her part-time position last year.
“The team I work with is great, the kids are great, my commute is good, and the facilities are nice,” Rizzo said when asked what prompted her to make the switch to a full time position.
Although her specialty is biology, Rizzo is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to teaching. She has a degree in English, allowing her to teach classes outside of the sciences.
“I’ve taught English, I’ve taught journalism, I’ve taught American history, but I teach mostly science which is what I’ve been doing for the past ten years,” Rizzo said.
It’s Rizzo’s extensive education that makes her qualified to teach such a variety of subjects.
“I went to a school called Columbia College, which is a small school in South Carolina. It was an all-girls school with mostly liberal arts, which is where I got my English degree,” Rizzo said. “I went to the University of South Carolina to study pharmacy there … While I was at Long Island University I took an Executive Career Change program which allowed me to get my Masters Degree and teaching certificate.”
Outside of school, Rizzo thoroughly enjoys both music and reading.
“My iPod has pretty much anything on it. I told my husband that out of 28 years of marriage, it was the greatest gift he ever gave to me. And he’s given me some great gifts—but that’s just how much I love music,” Rizzo said.