Alumna Educator Inspires Student to Teach

Monica Morselli Klein ’88 and Anthony Regateiro ’20 M’21

Alumna Educator Inspires Student to Teach

Anthony Regateiro ’20 M’21 still remembers a role-playing exercise in his sixth-grade social studies class. He and half of the class were from ancient Athens and his friend and the rest of the class were from Sparta. Each side talked about their strengths and why they were the better city-state.

In the same class, they had to choose a country participating in the Winter Olympics and follow along the live coverage while talking about the history of the country and the Olympics. It was one of his favorite classes, and sealed the deal that he not only wanted to become a teacher, but that he also wanted to study global history.

“Mrs. Klein was an extremely enthusiastic teacher, and she made all of the lessons come to life,” he said. “It was her class that influenced my decision to pursue secondary education with a concentration in social studies.”

When it was time to apply to college, Regateiro looked for a college with a strong teacher prep program and opportunities to play ice hockey. After visiting SUNY Oswego, he knew he had found the perfect college. (On a related note, his twin brother, James ’20, also graduated from Oswego.)

But little did he know when he chose his college, that it was also the same place his favorite teacher had attended. When he learned that Mrs. Klein had attended Oswego, he found a dramatic way to work it into his remarks when, as a high school senior, he was asked to present the Teacher of the Year Award to her.

“Although it seems like a crazy coincidence, I think it’s very special that I can share such a connection with a great teacher who has had such a great impact on my educational career,” he said in the 2016 presentation.

Monica Morselli Klein ’88 (aka Mrs. Klein) had also attended SUNY Oswego, although she majored in communications and minored in Italian.

A semester abroad in Siena, Italy, in spring 1987 sparked her interest in history and re-ignited a passion for teaching. She decided to attend graduate school to become a teacher, and she has spent the past 26 years teaching.

But the story doesn’t end there.

After Regateiro graduated from SUNY Oswego, he was hired as a special education teacher in the Bethpage School District—the same district where he attended school and where Klein still teaches.

“I remember Anthony as a student and loved his enthusiasm, his smile and his willingness to participate,” Klein said. “He was an active learner, eager to ask questions. Those traits will translate well as a teacher. He will be a wonderful teacher.”

As Klein looks forward to retirement soon and Regateiro begins what he expects to be a long career as a teacher, they both appreciate the role they’ve had in each other’s lives and feel grateful for finding their calling as teachers who inspire future generations to learn, grow and maybe even teach others.