TJ’s own Aimee Witulski balances teaching, sponsoring, and coaching with confidence.
Photo by Rebecca Holt
She’s the diving coach, she teaches math, she’s one of 2010’s class sponsors, and she’s an AVID teacher. How does she manage to contribute to TJ in so many ways? “Three words: good time management,” said Aimee Witulski. “It also helps to have enthusiasm for every part.”
According to Witulski, one of the main reasons she enjoys doing so much is because she likes working with students and seeing them grow in different aspects of their lives. “I get to know students all around, not just academically, which is nice because many of my students also swim,” said Witulski.
The class of 2010 is special to Witulski because they started at TJ the same year she did. “I started with them and soon I’ll be seeing them finish their time here at TJ, which places them in a special part of my heart.” Witulski has also always taught the class of 2010’s AVID class. “I really enjoy being a part of these kids’ graduation, and I look forward to hearing how they do in the future.”
Witulski is working with her co-sponsor, Kimberly Holtmann, to set up a phenomenal prom for 2010. “Ms. Witulski is good to work with because she’s reliable. We coach opposite seasons so when I’m coaching tennis I can count on her to pick up some of my slack, just like I can help her out when she’s busy coaching,” said Holtmann.
She even uses her math students to help raise more money by giving a small amount of extra credit for students who partake in fundraising. “It’s nice because it motivates me to participate in fundraisers. Not only am I helping making my prom better but I’m also helping my math grade a little,” said Senior Calculus Student, Alexandra Kaufhold.
Witulski also teaches three different math classes: freshman algebra, junior pre-calculus/AP calculus, and the senior AP calculus class. Witulski’s goal for her math students is for them to understand that they shouldn’t be afraid of math. “I like to improve my delivery each year so students feel more at ease learning math; the last thing I want to do is confuse them.” And Witulski is perfect for the job. In high school, math was her favorite class, which carried on to college. She simply just kept taking math classes because she did well in them and was interested. Witulski completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Math and continued to receive a Master’s in Applied Math. This eventually led her to teach the subject and share her vast knowledge of mathematics with the youth.
“Calculus is a really difficult subject, but Ms. Witulski makes it so much easier. She makes sure everyone understands before she moves on, so no one gets behind in the class,” said senior Akaxia Cruz. “She’s also really reasonable and tends to her students’ needs when necessary.”
Swimming has also been in Witulski’s life for quite some time. She swam when she was younger at Hampden Heights Pool, which is just down the street from TJ, and then was on the diving team at East High School. She was actually coached by TJ’s Assistant Principal and supervisor of the Math Department, Scott Lessard. “I was actually also her math teacher in high school. I have had a true admiration for her since I met her in her sophomore year. She was the best diver on the team and certainly the best math student I’d ever had; she was almost too good. She was an extremely dedicated and driven athlete and student,” said Lessard.
Eventually, this led Witulski to coach diving here at TJ. “I like to take kids with little or no experience in swimming and diving and help them grow in the sport. I also like continuing to build their skills and taking them from one season to another,” said Witulski.
“I’ve been swimming and diving since my freshman year,” said Senior, Colette Hernandez. “Aimee has really helped me improve my diving skills. She’s always been a really likeable coach, too; not too hard on us, but she doesn’t let us control her either. She’s really dedicated to seeing her athletes improve.”
Many people in this world would not be able to handle all these responsibilities so smoothly, but Witulski stays strong. “I sometimes feel like I don’t have enough time for all these things, but I never get so stressed that I feel discouraged.” After all, she’s human; but there is clearly something extraordinary about Aimee Witulki.
