Tech Valley High School in Albany is the only school of its kind in New York state. Students will tell you teachers there like Michelle Sweeny are also one of a kind.

Not only does she make sure students are understanding what they’re learning, they’re also having fun.

Ms. Sweeny is a founding teacher at Tech Valley High School, which is a four-year regional public school built on the principles of project-based learning and collaboration. It serves approximately 150 students in grades 9 through 12.

Being a teacher wasn’t Ms. Sweeny’s original plan. She studied physics in college, something she was really passionate about. That was until a good friend asked for her help with college algebra and then suggested she become a teacher.

Ms. Sweeny makes an effort to check in with her students daily and makes sure they know she is there to support them in and out of the classroom.

She learns just as much from them, as they learn from her, she said.

Hear students talk about what they love about her by watching the video of Caitlin Irla’s