Camelot Teacher Profile: Dr. Manishi Agnihotri
Dr. Manishi Agnihotri was the 2013 Teacher of the Year at Camelot’s Rubino Academy.
Dr. Manishi Agnihotri is in her third year teaching at Camelot’s Rubino Academy in Ewing Township, NJ. The 2013 Teacher of the Year at Rubino, Agnihotri teaches physics, chemistry and biology to 11th and 12th graders. Before joining Camelot she served as a substitute teacher in Mercer County Public Schools.
What brought you to Camelot?
Teaching is my passion, and I love challenges. I got to know about Rubino and their challenges, and I said, I know that I want to teach students who are not interested in science to change their preference to science. And in the past three years, I’ve enjoyed my position and I’m enjoying the Rubino atmosphere.
How would you compare a typical public school experience to Camelot?
Here we have diversity because we get students from all over the school district all with different backgrounds and different challenges in their personal life. We get to know them by their personal life and the problems they are having; so, we groom them academically and behaviorally. In turn, the students become very close to staff.
How do the Camelot norms contribute to your student’s success?
Camelot norms help them to realize what is good and appropriate. They learn all of the manners, so when they go out into the world they behave like a civilized citizen.
What are some of the challenges your students face and how are you able to help them overcome?
One of the biggest challenges students face is their psychology, their thinking and often negative approach. This way of thinking causes them to believe that no one cares and no one is there to help them. Once they enter into Rubino and they see the positive approach from the staff, and they see that we are all a family here helping each other, they change their attitude.
All the staff is helping them to graduate, apply to college and apply for a job, so when they see there’s someone here to help them they often change their outlook.
Favorite part about teaching at a Camelot school?
I love kids! And I love variation. In my class I have students at all levels and different backgrounds. Sometimes they have very good questions and I love to answer them. For some students I need to start from scratch with the basics of science, and I love that as well.
Rubino staff is very friendly; it always feels like I’m in a family and if I need any help they are here to help me. I never feel like I’m an outsider.
What have you learned from your students?
My students always surprise me. One example of this is that, no matter how hungry they are they always share their food during lunch. I’ve seen a hungry student share their food with their peer group and even offer to teachers. I’ve learned from them how to share no matter how much of a bind you are in and that you can always share your resources with others.
How would your students describe you?
They would describe me as a neat freak, very organized and very funny!
