Q: Why did you decide to be a teacher?

A: My mom was a teacher growing up and I’ve always enjoyed helping and being around people. I knew that I couldn’t do an office job, and seeing the impact my mom had on younger people’s lives made me realize that was something I wanted to do, too. I liked school as a kid and I liked my teachers, they had a big influence on me and I wanted to have that same influence on the next generation. A major influence on me was my high school math teacher. She was a major influence on me becoming a teacher, and I wanted to pay back the dedication she showed to me with my students. Her teaching methods were ahead of her time and had a profound impact on my life. She had a great reputation and was great with students. I really looked up to her and I want to have the same impact she had on me on my students.

Q: What is different about your high school experience as a teacher compared to your experience as a student?

A: As a teacher, I have a lot more responsibility than I did as a student. As a student, I was only responsible for myself, but as a teacher I’m responsible for myself and 150 of my students and all the other duties that come with being a teacher.

Q: How long have you been working here?

A: 25 years!

Q: Do you run any clubs?

A: I used to coach girls soccer, but once my kids came along, I started coaching them instead. I don’t have as much time to coach other kids as I have a lot of responsibilities with my own kids.

Q: What would you want new students to know about you before they begin their year?

A: I work extremely hard at my job. I take pride in what I do. I’m constantly reading and studying on the current educational language practices and updating my curriculum. I work hard to adapt my instructions so it meets the needs of my students.

Q: If you could have any classroom besides your own, which would it be?

A: I really like my classroom because I like the teachers on my floor and there is a nice mixture of language and social studies teachers, so it is fun to see my students in different settings. My favorite people are the ones on my floor and I enjoy seeing them every day.

Q: What musicians do you like to listen to?

A: Neil Diamond, New Kids on the Block, Elvis, 80s. Nobody will be surprised by that.

Q: Do you drink coffee, and if so what is your favorite kind of coffee drink? 

A: I’m not a coffee drinker, but I do enjoy a good hot chocolate.

Q: If you could teach any class other than Spanish, what would it be?

A: I would say math. Going into college, I wanted to be a math teacher and minor in Spanish, however I loved my Spanish classes so much that I could really see myself teaching Spanish instead of math. I would say math, but I’m glad I chose Spanish.

Q: What tips would you give to students who want to improve their skills outside the classroom?

A: First of all, work hard in class, as my goal is to set you up for success, and what we do in class should be enough. Outside of class, my students could read Spanish books and listen to Spanish music. Visual and auditory input such as reading and listening really helps with your writing and speaking. So overall, lots of Spanish input like books, music, and movies.

Q: What is a fun experience you have that you used Spanish outside of school?

A: Well, I don’t know if this would be a favorite but it was certainly useful. When my family was in Mexico over winter break, my son had a bad allergic reaction to something there, he had bad swelling and couldn’t even open his eyes. Being able to communicate with the ER staff and being able to get him the care he needed without the language barrier was incredibly helpful. I was able to tell them what happened beforehand and we were able to help him the help he needed and get medication at the pharmacy. Being able to do so without a language barrier was really helpful. If I didn’t know Spanish, the whole situation would have been much more stressful. They were very grateful that I was able to speak Spanish. My favorite experience, though, would be when I was in college and I was studying in Spain. I was taking a taxi and the taxi driver charged me double. When I told him that he charged me double in Spanish, he realized he couldn’t overcharge me and charged me the correct amount. Also, a man on my son’s soccer team speaks Spanish, so I get to learn and use my Spanish with him. It is really fun because I get to learn a lot about Spanish culture and the language as a whole.