Much of our lives are spent at school. Whether in class, participating in extracurricular activities, or spending time with friends, school plays a major role in shaping who we are. However, many of us overlook the profound impact that teachers and administrators have on our daily lives.
At Buena Vista, teachers consistently support students in their academic journeys and future goals. May 4–8 marks Teacher Appreciation Week, giving students an opportunity to reflect on and share the lasting impact teachers have had on their lives and education.
Mrs. Barnhill
Jordan Blum, Senior– “She’s a phenomenal teacher and is always there whenever you need her. I have had her all 4 years of high-school, and she has always been my favorite. She always makes class fun and engaging, helping make everything extremely understandable, even for non-native speakers such as myself”
Mrs. Stowe
Ai’Yrauna Young, Senior– “I think they deserve the spotlight because out of all the years of this school being functional, she has been dedicated, respectful, motivational, and moving towards the students. She makes learning a lot easier to digest and gives every perspective towards a subject instead of being biased. Also, she teaches with us and not at us… I remember when we were learning about the UK, she came dressed up and was able to explain as to why the clothes she was wearing was significant, how that correlated to the British nation, and why it is important. In this case, she wasn’t talking at us, but had us immersed, even if it is portrayed silly to other adults.”
Ms. Salcido
Jamynn Mynster, Junior– “I think Ms. Salcido deserves the spotlight because she is an amazing teacher who makes coming to school worth it. When I am having a rough day, I know Salcido will always be there for me to show me the love and kindness others are not. Over this past year Salcido has helped me gain lots of confidence and supported me through my journey in English. I think everyone should have a Ms. Salcido in their life!”
Ms. Muldoon
Lucero Muñoz, Freshman– “Muldoon deserves the spotlight because even when classes are giving her a hard time she’s still patient with the class and she makes assignments easier than they should be. That’s why when a sub comes in it feels weird cause she brightens up the class and makes everyone have a good day in that class. She lets us sit with our friends if it means we do our work and it’s nice being able to work with friends.”
Mr. Hedges-Stoops
Galilea Galvan Jacinto, Junior– “Mr. Hedges is a very kind individual and a very easy-going person to be around. He is also incredibly helpful when it comes to almost any kind of music. He will also go out of his way to answer any question you have about music and shows a great interest in helping out students. A specific moment I remember about Mr. Hedges was when I first started showing interest in the guitar and since then he’s helped and inspired me to continue to learn and improve.
Mr Santiago
Emiliano Marquez, Sophomore- “Santiago deserves the spotlight because he’s always been supportive and kind to everyone. He also wants kids to succeed which you can see in his teaching, and he always tries to enlighten the mood. Overall, he also puts a lot of work in to make sure kids succeed and get the support they need, and he always listens to your problems and is always giving good advice and suggestions.”
Mr Kirmer
Maya Shaffer, Junior– “He’s a good teacher and keeps his students in check. He is a straight thinker and is honest. He keeps it real and simple and is a good teacher, also super underrated. He has made me become a better version of myself and helped me grow in ways i never thought I could.”
Mrs. Smolen
Ileana Abrego Alberta, Sophomore– “Mrs. Smolen deserves the spotlight because she’s an amazing teacher and a great person in general. She’s very understanding, caring and thoughtful, she’s always making sure to go out of her way to help every single one of her students understand an assignment. She gives us time and support to turn in our assignments, which is very thoughtful of her, which shows how much she truly cares. She makes her work very understanding so it can be a little easier to understand, which really helps us learn better. I’m really grateful for everything she does.”
