Unplugged and Unscripted: Ms. Mazzurco

Name: Rosa Mazzurco

Subject: English

Why did you choose to teach English?

I’m drawn to literature and philosophy. I was a fine arts student in high school who loved to read; I spent most of my days as a senior in the studio, either working on a painting or reading one of the many, many books lent to me by my sculpture teacher. Those were halcyon (calm, peaceful) days. I wanted to continue and expand on those discussions of art, literature, and ethics from the studio. Hence, I became an English teacher.

Why did you choose to teach at Stuyvesant? Why do you like (or not like) to teach here?

What I like: I feel lucky to teach at Stuyvesant: there is never a dull moment; students inspire and challenge me on a daily basis. Students often share keen insights about the literature that expand my understanding and appreciation of the text. Not to sound cliché, but I really do learn a great deal from the students here. That is pretty exhilarating. 

What I do not like: The atmosphere at Stuy embodies what the philosopher Byung Chul-Han would call an “achievement society,” hyperconcerned with optimization and consistent improvement. Students and teachers alike regularly work themselves to exhaustion, and it can be difficult to give ourselves the rest and reflection necessary to process and grow. It takes a strong individual to handle this type of grind.

Do you have any funny anecdotes from your years in the classroom?

Many, many years ago, I had a small tenth-period Existentialism class that was always hungry. So we decided snacks would help, and students volunteered to bring some in. This evolved from mere snacks into a competition over who could bring in the most elaborate, multicourse meal. One day, I remember a student arrived to class with three large foil containers: one contained a lasagna, complete with a beshemel sauce, a second, I think, held an arugula salad, and the third was filled with a homemade tiramisu. We ate very, very well.

How has it been teaching English during the rise of AI?

Ugh. It has been strange. For the most part, I find students at Stuyvesant want to complete challenging coursework; they understand that this work not only broadens their knowledge base but also finetunes their critical thinking skills. However, when the course load becomes too much, when a student second-guesses their own abilities, or is not engaged enough with the material, large language models become a seductive option. I am trying to reconfigure my assessments so that much of the writing and thinking is done in class. I also am a huge proponent of handwritten work. In a recent article from the National Library of Medicine, “The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle?” (2025), researchers found that “handwriting activates a broader network of brain regions involved in motor, sensory, and cognitive processing. Typing engages fewer neural circuits, resulting in more passive cognitive engagement.” Handwriting activates our neural network in ways that typing cannot.

Do you think the English department has helpful policies regarding AI?

I think so. There is a greater focus on in-class writing assessments, which may feel a little stressful for students, but produce, in my opinion, some powerful writing. The time restriction forces concision, cohesion, and even some “eureka” moments.  

Where did you grow up? What did you love to do as a child? Does this influence how you teach now (for instance, what books you choose)?

I grew up in a small, sleepy town in western New York State. As a child, I loved to ride my bike on backwoods trails, swim in nearby lakes, [and] snowboard. I suppose this has inspired me to focus on the value of embodied, lived experience, something emphasized in the philosophies of phenomenology and absurdism. Sensory experience can inform as much as a priori knowledge. I’m hoping to add additional writings by Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the famous dancer/phenomenologist, to the Existentialism curriculum.

Did you always want to be a teacher? If not, what did you want to be beforehand?

I’m not someone who thinks a lot about the future. I feel fortunate that my life has led me where it has. 

Rapid fire!

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Night Owl

Coffee or tea? 

Coffee

Paperback or hardcover? (or an E-Reader?)

Paperback

Favorite book?

My favorite book changes with the day; right now, I’m in a Samuel Delany phase.

Other hobbies?

I’ve been an avid scuba diver for about 25 years. I hope, in the future, to work more closely with the Coral Restoration Foundation and the several coral nurseries that have been established off the coast of Cozumel and Bonaire.