Students listen attentively as a teacher takes them through the steps of graphing a linear equation. When explaining to them the process of finding the slope of a line and sketching it on a coordinate plane, she takes her time making sure her students have fully grasped the concept. By asking questions and engaging them in any way that she can, the teacher seeks to make this subject as simple and comprehensible as possible.

Nicole Hovorkova is a new Algebra 1 teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Hovorkova is from the Czech Republic, where she taught English to young children before she moved to Florida in 2022.

Upon the move, she continued working with children by acquiring a job as a teacher for homeschooled students that were behind in math. In doing this, she discovered that teaching math was something she excelled at.

Although Hovorkova loves to teach, she never thought that she would have a career as a teacher. However, her mother was a teacher and always had aspirations for her to become one as well. She was previously a ski instructor, which she thought was a drastically different career, but upon reflection, she realized that even that involved teaching all along.

Her newfound passion for math is what led her to enroll at Broward College, where she got a degree in Math Education. After doing so, Mrs. Koltunova reached out to her about an opportunity to teach at MSD.

Since beginning instruction, she has developed a routine and made it her mission to inspire positivity in her students’ lives. Every day, she begins class by sharing inspirational quotes with her students and doing a warmup with them, such as journaling.

As a teacher, Hovorkova is adamant about encouraging students to do homework, as she believes it is extremely beneficial. Above all, she wants to see her students succeed and thinks homework and practice are what will help them accomplish this.

“Math is just like going to the gym. If you want to get stronger you have to get your reps in and if you don’t do enough problems [you won’t improve],” Hovorkova said. “You can think of your problems as your sets in the gym. The more reps you do the stronger you get… and that will propel you to succeed.”

Hovorkova feels that having a good relationship with her students is important and has found that establishing one is much easier to achieve with high school students.

“The best thing is that they are developed enough to actually have a conversation about a topic,” Hovorkova said. “They can process their own growth and their own shortcomings… that younger students cannot do like in a middle school or elementary school. They’re just more responsible and fun and we can have a good conversation.”

One of Hovorkova’s primary focuses at the moment is being able to make her students feel comfortable so that they can ask questions and feel that they can confide in her if they need anything. She wants to make sure that her classroom is a safe and welcoming space in which the importance of kindness is understood.

“Just be good. Be kind to others and to yourself more importantly,” Hovorkova said. “I think that will go a long way. Making the world a better place [means] you focus on the good and you do good.”

Although the 2023–2024 school year just commenced, Hovorkova has already decided on her summer break plans. Since Florida is far from her hometown in Europe, she wishes to return in order to catch up with her family and make more memories.

This school year, Hovorkova looks forward to seeing her students’ growth both inside and outside of school. She believes that all of them have great potential and is thrilled to have the opportunity to play a part in helping them fulfill it.