Currently teaching Spanish 1 and 2, Maestra Karla Andrade is in her third year as a Saint Francis educator. In her past experiences teaching, she has taught all levels of Spanish, through AP Spanish Language. Maestra Andrade also moderates the calligraphy club.
The Lancer: When you were a student in high school and college, what was your experience like?
Maestra Karla Andrade: So, high school was busy, but exciting, because I like to learn new stuff. But college, university, was a challenge because I grew up in Mexico my entire life, and for college, I moved to the United States, and I had a challenge because of the language. It’s hard, you know, when you start a career. So, I needed to be more focused in school, because I needed to see what’s going on and understand the language.
TL: What led you to become a teacher? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do, or more of a gradual realization?
KA: No, this is funny, because when I moved to the United States, I was studying marketing because my entire life I wanted to study business. But when I moved here to start working, one of my friends offered me a job teaching special kids. So, I noticed as I started teaching over there, helping, that I like to be in the classroom and teaching other people. So that job was only for a couple months, and I remember when I was done, I started looking for another job related to teaching. So after a year studying marketing in school, I changed my major!
TL: What makes Saint Francis special to you as an educator, and how do you think that reflects in students’ experiences?
KA: Here at Saint Francis, I can say, it’s a peaceful place where I can work. I feel safe, I feel supported by my co-workers for the students. I can say [that] the students here, they’re so sweet and easy compared to other places.
TL: What is the most rewarding and most taxing part of your job?
KA: To see my students grow. And the taxing one, having to balance grading and planning.
TL: What is your teaching philosophy and how do you exemplify it in the classroom?
KA: I always tell the students, if you make a mistake, it’s okay because we’re here to learn. So, we need to respect and not laugh [at other students] because sometimes people make a mistake and they feel embarrassed. But I noticed in my class, nobody feels embarrassed because they feel comfortable. And I always say at the beginning of the year, if you make a mistake, it’s fine, nothing will happen.
TL: What do you like to do outside of the classroom?
KA: Every day I wake up at 4:30 because I’m running at five in the morning. Well, not every day; four days of the week.
TL: Are you training for races?
KA: Last year, I ran my first 5K.
TL: Wow, congrats!
KA: Thank you. And this year, I am training for a marathon. I only do it because I enjoy running, at five in the morning. I can’t do it afterwards, it needs to be in the morning.
TL: Have you been running for many years?
KA: I started last year. This is a new thing for me.
TL: What is your best piece of advice for students?
KA: If you want something, you need to work for it, because in this life nothing is free. We need to work for it.
TL: Now we have some lightning-round questions. Out of all the cities that you have traveled to, what is your favorite?
KA: I don’t have a favorite, because I travel every summer to different places, and every place they have something different that I love. So, I don’t have a specific one. I can tell you, Oaxaca, Mexico, Espagna, Madrid, but I have too many. I don’t have a specific one.
TL: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
KA: I love dogs, especially Chihuahuas. I have one. His name is Carnalito, and he’s 14 years old.
TL: What is your go-to karaoke song?
KA: Everybody knows me, it’s “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos” by Shakira.
TL: What is your favorite food?
KA: Tacos.
TL: If you could teach another subject, what would it be?
KA: Design. I really want to teach design, but I prefer teaching Spanish.
Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
