Beloved Physics Teacher Mrs. Gross Retires

By Maia Difiglia

After teaching for 36 years, Mrs. Gross, beloved physics teacher, will be retiring this year. Recently, Mrs. Gross sat down to share more about her time here at Oyster Bay High School.

Mrs. Gross expressed that the best part about teaching at OBHS has been the impact the students and their families have had on her. She has taught most of her students’ siblings and has even taught some of their parents!

The longtime physics teacher is an OBHS alumnus and even attended Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, so leaving this district is going to be quite difficult considering it has been a part of her life for so long.

Mrs. Gross has never had an interest in teaching anything besides physics. She expressed that her love for physics has been apparent since the young age of three, and she has been passionate about it ever since. She even played school as a kid and dreamed about being a science teacher. Mrs. Gross noted that she “still loves teaching” just as much as when she started, and she is sad to leave her profession.

​Mrs. Gross also revealed that she was most upset about retiring because she felt bad for the students she wouldn't get the chance to teach. “It’s the worst part. I agonize over the people I didn’t have,” she explained. Mrs. Gross wanted to share her passion for teaching, and for physics, with as many students as she possibly could. 

Although she’ll miss teaching, she simply felt that it was her time to move on. After she retires, Mrs. Gross plans on spending more time with her family and catching up on her reading. 

Even though future classes never got the chance to have her as a teacher, Mrs. Gross has left a lasting mark on thousands of students’ lives. OBHS will miss you, Mrs. Gross!