Nanuet is a district known for its high quality education. As a National Blue Ribbon School, most of the credit is due to the amazing teachers we have. This year, there are three teachers retiring after a long and rewarding career. We were honored to interview Ms. Tierney, Ms. Murphy, and Mr. DuPlessis and gain their valuable perspectives on finding true meaning in your career and following your heart.
– Ms. Tierney-
Ms. Tierney has been a major part of the English Department and has taught Special Education and English for thirty years. For many, choosing a career is a difficult task. For Ms. Tierney, however, she had her heart set on teaching.
“I knew from the time I was in high school that I wanted to teach, “ she said. “I saw students that needed help and weren’t always included in things, so I wanted to help change that.”
Ms. Tierney’s empathetic personality is a part of what makes her such an amazing teacher. She is passionate about helping students accomplish their goals and always celebrates their achievements.
“I have truly enjoyed working with the students here and have enjoyed working with fantastic colleagues,” Ms. Tierney said. “I love when I hear from former students about how successful they have become.”
As for future teachers, her advice is not to underestimate the time and effort needed to uplift students. Being passionate and loving your job is key to being successful, as well as having the drive to put your best foot forward every day. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and always be open to learning something new. Adaptability has been integral to excelling in her career, according to her.
“Knowing you made a difference in the lives of some students is an amazing feeling and is one reason why you’ll never regret choosing to be a teacher,” she said.
Ms. Tierney’s plans for the future are exciting. She plans to travel around the U.S. and some foreign countries. She adores outdoor activities and now has the freedom to hike and kayak as she pleases, she explained.
“While many aspects of my job have changed over the last thirty years, I have seen it as an opportunity to continue to grow and learn,” she said. “I consider myself lucky to have had the chance to build wonderful friendships with students and colleagues, while making many fantastic memories along the way.”
Our Nanuet Community is ecstatic for Ms. Tierney’s fun-filled and adventurous future. We are so appreciative of all the hard work and wonderful relationships she has developed over the years with students and teachers alike. Her passion, empathy, kindness, and care make an impact on everyone around her, and we wish her all the best from Nanuet High School!
-Mr. DuPlessis-
While Ms. Tierney’s journey has been full of growth, connection, and impact, she’s not the only one saying goodbye this year.
After 33 years of teaching, 27 of them at Nanuet Senior High School, Mr. DuPlessis is saying goodbye to the classroom. Known for his work in special education, English co-teaching, and his early years teaching self-contained social studies and English, Mr. DuPlessis’ career has been one defined by dedication, connection, and heart.
Before becoming a teacher, Mr. DuPlessis worked in finance in New York City during the booming 1980s. But despite dreams of retiring young and buying a house in the Hamptons, he quickly realized something was missing.
“I wanted to do something more honest, something where I could build real relationships,” he said.
That desire to connect with people led him to education and, eventually, to a lifelong passion for coaching and teaching. His journey into teaching wasn’t traditional. A chance opportunity to fill a social studies position in the Bronx launched his career, and he soon found that his strongest connections were with students with learning disabilities. That connection guided his shift into special education, where he found his calling.
In addition to teaching, Mr. DuPlessis spent years coaching basketball and soccer at Nanuet.
“We went to the finals in basketball in 2005,” he recalled fondly, reflecting on the relationships he built with players and students, many of whom he still keeps in touch with today. “Those are going to be my best memories.”
As he looks ahead to retirement, Mr. DuPlessis plans to take time for himself and reconnect with loved ones. He hopes to travel and visit family across the country, including in California and the Carolinas.
“It’s mostly about personal relationships I haven’t had time to nurture,” he said.
To future teachers, his advice is simple but powerful:
“Make sure you love it,” he said. “Don’t give up after the first two or three years. It gets better.”
Reflecting on his own early challenges teaching in the South Bronx, he emphasized that support and patience make all the difference.
Mr. DuPlessis leaves behind a legacy of care, perseverance, and a deep commitment to his students. As he steps into retirement, the impact of his years at Nanuet will continue to be felt by generations of students and staff alike.
-Mrs. Murphy-
Next, we spoke with Mrs. Murphy, a dedicated science teacher who spent 22 of her 26 years teaching at Nanuet, inspiring curiosity in the classroom. Known for her energy, warmth, and passion for Earth and Space Science, Mrs. Murphy has deeply impacted students at both the Middle and High School levels.
“I’ve always loved helping others, and I’ve had a passion for science for as long as I can remember,” she said. “Becoming a teacher just felt like the perfect way to combine both.”
Though science wasn’t her first career, her path to education was a meaningful one. Before teaching, Mrs. Murphy worked in adult and child services, a job that taught her the importance of patience, empathy, and meeting people where they are, all qualities that translate seamlessly into her teaching.
When it comes to the subject she taught, Mrs. Murphy’s passion for science was the deciding factor. Earth and Space Science had fascinated her for years, and she wanted her students to feel the same excitement as she did.
“I really enjoy seeing that spark in students when something clicks or when they get excited about a topic I love,” she said.
When it comes to the future, Mrs. Murphy has got some exhilarating adventures waiting for her. She plans to slow down her busy life for now and enjoy her own passions.
“I plan to finally take some time to enjoy the things I love, such as hiking, visiting national parks, and museums, and just exploring all the amazing things the world has to offer,” she said.
These plans are quite on theme for Mrs. Murphy, as she’s always shown us pictures of her travels to different national parks and natural wonders throughout the years. It truly demonstrates her overarching dedication to Earth science, as she enjoys exploring the Earth in her spare time.
While exploring the world, Mrs. Murphy also wants to continue her work in education and the science department.
“I’d love to keep working with programs like the Science Olympiad,” she explained. “I really enjoy volunteering and mentoring students through that.”
Nanuet’s Science Olympiad team is certainly thrilled to hear that, and we’d be so lucky to have her continue to mentor us if possible. Mrs. Murphy’s desire to continue being involved with science and her students encapsulates her passion for the subject and for helping students find their inner love for science, too.
“I just think it’s so cool, and I want my students to feel that same excitement, “ she said. “I hope my enthusiasm rubs off on them. I’ve learned that you don’t have to be a straight A student to love science. You just need the chance to explore it, and that’s what I try to give my students.”
As a former student of Mrs. Murphy’s eighth grade Earth Science class and a member of the Science Olympiad team, I can confidently attest to the fact that Mrs. Murphy’s enthusiasm inspired all of us to explore science with a similar passion. Personally, I’ve garnered my own love for science by seeing the excitement in her eyes and actions when preparing for the Science Olympiad competition with other students. From finding the North Star in our starry suburban sky to using the Bunsen burner to observe brilliant color changes, being Mrs. Murphy’s student has been truly a rewarding experience for me over the past three years. Mrs. Murphy truly values what she does and the Nanuet Community is grateful for the impact she’s had on its children.
One thing was clear, Ms. Tierney, Mr. DuPlessis, and Mrs. Murphy have each left a lasting mark on the Nanuet community. Their years of dedication, compassion and love for teaching have shaped the lives of countless students and colleagues. Though each of them followed a different path into education, all three found meaning, purpose and joy in helping others grow.
We are so thankful for the incredible impact they’ve had, and we wish them all the best in this next exciting chapter of life. Nanuet won’t be the same without them, but their legacy will live on every student they inspired.