From time to time, we at KRL like to recognize some of the unsung heroes in our school system. This week we are profiling Reedley High School teacher Lesley Gates, who teaches biology and forensics.
As individuals age, learning a second language can be challenging. At Immanuel High School, students have come to realize that learning Spanish can be enjoyable. Previously known as a teacher’s aide at Alta elementary school, Mrs. Brandt, the Spanish teacher on campus, is now spending her twenty-second year teaching at Immanuel High School. When asked what inspired this Immanuel graduate to pursue a teaching career she responded with, “The teachers whom I worked with encouraged me to return to college and get my teaching credential.
Here at KRL we like to shine the spotlight on those in education who go above and beyond, and it seemed appropriate that our last profile of the school year be of long time English teacher Elizabeth Hardcastle. It also seemed fitting for our anniversary issue, since our first ever teacher profile was of another RHS English teacher, Janet Adams.
"A great man of God."
"A wonderful and uplifting human being."
"An awesome teacher."
All these quotes are to describe one of my favorite people in the community. Jeff March has been at Immanuel for quite awhile serving as a chaplain, a Bible and U.S. History teacher and many other wonderful positions at the school.
Seven years ago, Immanuel High School hired a new addition to the English department. Now one of the main English teachers on campus, Mimi Kriegbaum has become an inspiration to more than a few students, including myself. Before Immanuel, she taught kindergarten in Cutler, Ca, and transitioning from small children to young adults seemed to be the best decision for her.
Amber Hunt is the only French teacher at Reedley High School. She is amazing at staying cool even though she has a full schedule. If you go into her room during lunch, there will generally be a big group of kids visiting her. She’s not only a great teacher but a great person.
Shaylee Schmidt makes it quite obvious through her work that she truly cares about her students; she’s constantly encouraging them and helping them in different ways. Mrs. Schmidt is one of the physical education teachers at Reedley High School. She lives in Kingsburg, where she grew up and attended Kingsburg elementary school, and later graduated from Immanuel. She has diverse working experience from working at a packing house to being a secretary and now, a teacher.
I walked into the classroom as a teacher for the first time with a knot in my stomach. How am I going to perform as a teacher? Can I really teach? What if I can’t? Will they find out I’m a fraud? This was my first job after college and I hoped I could do it.
Here at Kings River Life Magazine, we realize how important teachers and other school employees are to the lives of our children and the future of our communities as they shape the leaders of tomorrow. Sadly, most of the best of them work long hours with little recognition or thanks. Our goal here is to take a moment to thank as many of these people as we can — those who go above and beyond and exceed expectations.
Currently an English teacher at Reedley High School, Phillip Marquez teaches five senior classes of Chicano Literature and one ELD (English Language Development) class. During his six years with Kings Canyon Unified School District (KCUSD) he has also taught Math, Science, P.E., English, Social Sciences and History at Citrus Middle School and Dunlap Elementary, as well as other English classes at RHS.
