An interview with Spanish teacher, Mrs.Reich.

1.What is your life like outside of school?

First and foremost I am a mommy to 3 beautiful children.  My oldest daughter Avery is 7 years old and she is a budding painter, my middle daughter Evan is 5 and she is a born performer. She loves to sing and dance for us. Our youngest child, Grayson, was born only 3 months ago so he has yet to show us his talents but he is the happiest baby around. He has a smile for everyone he sees.  My husband John and I have been married for 14 years and we have two amazing pets.  Kelti, our golden retriever has been with us for 13 years! She was our first child.  We also have a 1 year old cat named Princess who is very sweet and gets along well with our dog. One of my favorite things to do is to sit with a good book in a cool and comfy spot and just get lost in the story I’m reading.  I love a good book!  I started a book club with some friends 2 years ago and we are still going strong! We actually read the books we pick and get into some great discussions about them.

2. What made you want to teach Spanish?

I am a native Spanish speaker on both sides of my family.  My dad was from Mexico and my mom from Cuba, so Spanish was spoken exclusively in my home as I was growing up.  It was amazing to be surrounded by the language and culture but honestly I didn’t know any differently.  In college I took Spanish civilization classes and that peaked my interest more and more until I was a full on Spanish major.  I wanted to share my love for the language and culture with others who hadn’t gotten to grow up with my experiences.  Hopefully, over the years, I’ve gotten to do just that with my students.

3. What is your favorite part about being a teacher at Vandegrift?

I love that everyone has a sense of the future and where they are heading! Kids are looking ahead and know that college is not so very far away. There is a real sense of community that inspires everyone to work towards common goals.

4. What should students expect for the year? What is your classroom environment like?

In my room students can expect a supportive, positive class environment with fun activities. My room is bright and colorful and I try to incorporate as many interesting lessons as possible.

5. What is one fun fact about yourself?

One of my hidden talents is singing! In college I was a vocal performance and dance major before switching majors to Spanish. I sing at weddings and special events (sometimes funerals) and of course at my church.  The time I best love to sing, though, is bedtime lullabies to my little ones.