Even though Josephine Bombardiere’s path was once on a different road, regret is the last thing in her mind when changing her major: “Everything happens for a reason, and I’m glad I chose to become a teacher instead! It’s such a special and rewarding job!” Returning as a Jaguar after graduating from 2014, alumna Bombardiere has found teaching to be her true calling. Bringing love and admiration for children into her aesthetic classroom, she continues to emphasize the importance of relationships between her students to make each year unforgettable.-

During her junior year in college, Bombardiere had lost her interest in pursuing a major in Business and Marketing. However, Bombardiere “had always thought about going into education as another option.” This change in her major would quickly turn her into Ms. Bombardiere, who has been teaching at PPCHS for the last six years.

After completing her internship and successfully obtaining a job at the FSU campus as a second grade teacher, Bombardiere knew that she wanted her class to be a safe place: “the relationships that I create with my students are extremely important and come before anything else.” By making these relationships, it only makes the activities Bombardiere does in her class all the more meaningful.

Ms. Bombardiere creates her yearly, loveable activities to keep her mini jaguars entertained and excited to learn. Activities including “Grinchmas, Star’books’ day, and a class pet adoption activity,” elate all of her students and makes her classroom one that all her students remember as they continue and graduate through the charter system. 

Despite the hard work that comes with creating and organizing her events, Bombardiere finds this tedious work to be worth it at the end of the year. Bombardiere’s classroom leaves a lasting impact on her jaguars, and not only with her useful teaching techniques, but the joy-filled memories that her students leave with make all the difference. Whenever Bombardiere’s “past students come to visit me or run and give me a hug and tell me how much they miss me, I’m reminded that this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing.”

PPCHS always held a special place in Bombardiere’s heart as she was a part of the jaguar system from fourth grade all the way to graduation. Her teachers and the administration always held a special place in her heart, “I absolutely love my school and administration who basically watched me grow up.” 

Bombardiere’s second home was always her school, and now she gets the opportunity to be like the teachers she once admired. Specifically, Bombardiere loved her fourth grade teacher, who now is one of her closest friends and her team member years later. PPCHS also taught her that hard work will result in grand success, “which helped me in developing a strong work ethic and taking pride in what I do!”

Returning to the charter system truly made Bombardiere find her favorable career for many years to come. By becoming the teacher her students return to with wide smiles and large gratitude, Bombardiere knows that this is where her true passion lies. Loving each and every moment of her job and her jaguars, Bombardiere walks into her classroom ready to make a difference for herself and her students.