Erin Botta: Cheerful Teacher and Beloved Colleague at CCHS

By Molly Igoe

3/22/23

Erin Botta is Colonie's “parent away from home”, a title she was awarded by the Class of 2023. She is full of life and love that touches her students and colleagues around her. When I sat down to begin my interview with her, she had a bright smile that stretched across her face, as she always does whenever I encounter her.

As soon as I asked her my first question, she immediately went into detail, making direct eye contact with me and playfully waving her hands as she spoke.

Botta describes herself as empathetic, trustworthy and funny. She explained that she is conscious about how her actions impact others. “I’ve always been really in tune to other people’s feelings…I’m really careful about when you tell me something, not to tell anyone else”. Botta believes trust is something you cannot get back.

Botta comes from a family with a good sense of humor, which is why she likes to laugh and make jokes with those around her. This is a significant part of her personality that she shares at her workplace.

She is the oldest of seven kids, having three brothers and three sisters. She says that she enjoys having such a big family because she always had playmates and was never lonely as a child. Though, being the oldest of many kids comes with much responsibility, she explained. “Being the oldest caused me to be super independent, and so I was able to do a lot of things on my own”. She says that taking care of her younger siblings prepared her for being a mother of her own children.

Botta says that her parents were hard on her growing up, which prompted an academically driven work ethic. “I was always pressured to be top-notch”, she says. “I wanted them (her parents) to be proud of me and respect me”.

Though her parents were strict, they instilled a really great focus on family. “I always remember them saying, your friends will come and go, but you’ll always have your sisters, you’ll always have us”

Botta’s parents are still together today and she said that they taught her about marriage; how it has its ups and downs, explaining that it’s not easy. She said that this advice helped her later on with her own (current) marriage and how to guide herself through the hardships.

Botta met her husband when she first started teaching at Lisha Kill Middle School. “He was a breath of fresh air. Super kind, super empathetic… he is just such a good and gentle soul. It felt so right”, she says. Botta believes that if something is meant to be, it will be. “If you look for the good in the universe, it will come to you.”

Botta explained that her life’s biggest achievement is her family and home. “My husband and I have worked really hard”.

They are in the process of renovating their home they bought at the beginning of the pandemic. She says this is where they want to be forever. “We’re really proud that we got there and we are in the neighborhood we want to be in and our kids are thriving”.

Botta gave some advice for her graduating students, “If you want to go away and you want to go far, follow that dream… don’t let your relationships hold you back”. She explained how grateful she was that she went away to college and decided not to stay for her high school boyfriend. She believes that seniors should take as many opportunities as they can before college, and during college as well. “Remember that you’re really young and you might change your mind… and that’s okay”, she says.

Botta went to The College of Saint Rose and was a bio-secondary ed major at first. She explains that she wanted to be a teacher but was also unsure whether she wanted to go to medical school or not. “ I tutored in high school and always loved working with kids, and loved science and math. I always knew I kinda wanted to be a teacher”, she says.

David Fields, a colleague of Mrs. Botta, described her as brilliant, reliable, and energetic. “She’s definitely someone you can count on if you need anything… she always follows through”, he says. They met in 2003 and have been good friends ever since. I have heard other colleagues of Botta say the same. Everyone undoubtedly has immensely positive things to say about her.

Math has always been a subject I struggle in, but with Botta’s encouraging and supportive teaching style, it has become easier and less stressful. I finally understand what I’m learning, and I owe it all to her. I look forward to her class everyday; it is constantly filled with fun. She makes every lesson entertaining.

Mrs. Botta is one of the most kind and understanding teachers I have met. Most of her students feel the same way, based on what I have witnessed.

I am personally grateful that I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be taught by Mrs. Botta. Colonie High School is blessed to have her as a part of their community.