Welcome to the Riley Family, New Teachers
The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change.” This statement couldn’t be any more true, especially during the teenage and young adult years. Our Riley community has also seen some changes as well, specifically in our teaching staff. This year, we welcome seven new teachers: Here’s some info on five of them:
Ms. Cassandra Reyes
Biology, Marine Biology
Photo Credit: Cassandra Reyes
Ms. Reyes teaches biology and marine biology. She says that it’s only natural that she would choose to teach biology, after deciding she wanted to become a teacher, “I have a pretty extensive animal background, and I’ve always enjoyed science. I’ve always specifically enjoyed biology, so when I decided to pursue teaching, it was kind of obvious that biology was the choice.” Some of you may already know Reyes as it’s not her first year here at Riley. “I did my student teaching with Mrs. Nancy Simoni last year, though this is my first year officially teaching.”
One of the things she likes about Riley is the community- one of the things our school prides itself on.
“I think the community is really great, I think principal Henderson does an amazing job for his students at creating a really strong community; he’s an awesome person for the job. Also within the science department, everybody’s been very supportive, very welcoming, [and] very kind to me. So, it’s been great. The students are awesome [too]...”
This school year has started out like no other and has been quite hectic and crazy. Here’s Reyes’s response to it. “Yes, it’s been crazy. I guess it’s kind of a given that the freshmen are kind of still in an eighth-grade mindset because they never got to finish eighth grade. It’s been difficult with that transition because it didn’t necessarily happen the way it normally does. It’s definitely not their fault or anything like that. I think that just being as supportive as possible, especially with all these quarantines having come up, will really help. It’s not easy for us teachers, but it’s definitely not easy for them either”
As far as becoming more active in the Riley community, Reyes definitely is looking forward to it in the future. “I participated in the Science Olympiad when I was in middle school, so that’s definitely something I’m interested in. It's a little difficult right now because it’s my first year teaching and I’m also working on my masters and all that stuff that comes with it.”
Outside of possible extracurricular involvement, Reyes has been really enjoying her classes and thinks they're going pretty well. “My classes are really great. It can be difficult when there’s a lot of students, but honestly, I really love and care for each and every one of my students. I want them as individuals to be successful and I try to work with them as long as they’re willing to work.”
Lastly, I asked if she feels welcome here at Riley.
“Yeah, I do. The science department has been very welcoming, the students have been very accepting of me, which I think might have something to do with the fact that I’m Latino, so I speak Spanish and grew up in a Mexican household. So I can relate to some of my students better, and I try to bring that into my classroom.”
“But yeah, It’s been great. I was worried about being able to connect with my students, but it just seems that’s been the easiest part.”
Ms. Amber Long
Algebra, Math Lab
Amber Long
Ms. Long teaches Algebra and Math Lab and started teaching it because “I’ve always really enjoyed math. I remember in high school that was the class that I looked forward to. I love the challenge, but I also love that there is a direct point A and point B and a way to get there.” She has had a bit of a journey getting here to Riley. It is Ms. Long’s fourth year teaching, having done her first three years of teaching in Evansville and her student-teaching in Bloomington, where she is from.
“I made some really close friends in Bloomington, I would call them my chosen family. Following that I took a job in Evansville, it was the first job I was offered and I was just gonna grab on because I didn’t know what the future was going to hold. I moved down there, and about three months later, my friends moved up here. I would come to see them on breaks and it was a five-hour drive and involved a time change, so it was a little difficult. Because of that, we had been joking for the past three years like ‘wouldn’t it be great if I moved up to be closer and it slowly became less of a joke and more of a want so I moved up here. It was also just time for me to move on from the situation I was in. I was looking for new experiences and, you can just tell sometimes when it’s time to move on. Luckily for me, everything just lined up perfectly.”
One of the things that Ms. Long likes about being at Riley is the welcoming environment. “I like a lot of things about Riley, it has a nice welcoming atmosphere. Something that I liked is that a couple of teachers introduced themselves to me within 10 minutes of me walking into the building on the first Teacher Day, which I thought was really nice because you don’t always get that.” She really likes the flexibility we have here as well.
“I like the flexibility that we don’t have a strict schedule when it comes to curriculum and teaching. It’s more about doing what’s best for the students and that’s something I’m very big on and so the fact that that was also something the whole school is aligned with I really liked.”
With the bit of a chaotic start to the year, Ms. Long still sees it as somewhat of a normal school year. “It’s, in some ways, just seems like a normal school year.”
As far as getting involved and out in our community, Ms. Long puts forth her best effort to get out there. “I do like to try to go out and at least support the athletes in my classes. I don’t necessarily always go to events, but I know that if they want me there, I will do my best to be there.”
“My classes are going pretty well,” Ms. Long answered when talking about how her classes, “It can get a little crazy; first block is very quiet because it’s 8:30 in the morning and everybody is exhausted. But my fourth, fifth, and sixth algebras, they’re rambunctious but they’re fun. I think that one of the things that’s one of the things that I’ve enjoyed the most; sometimes the hardest classes can also be the most fun.”
Overall, Ms. Long has really felt very welcome and feels she can always find help here. “The kids have been really great and I know that if I need help, I can go to almost anyone here and I know they’re going to be able to help. Just seeing the administrators in the hallway and being able to talk to them about anything is great.”
Mrs. Brianne Adams
English 9 & 11
Brianne Adams
Mrs. Adams teaches multiple sections of English 9 as well as a class of English 11 and decided to teach it for a love of writing and grammar. “I really like writing and when I was younger and decided to teach, I liked grammar, and that’s why I chose the English route.” This is Mrs. Adams’s 15th year teaching and she has taught at Brown and Jefferson where she spent a lot of time.
She ended up at Riley after a two-year break thanks to a great connection. “I am friends with Mr. Hardman and he told me that there was an opening and that I should apply, so I did.”
After her first six weeks here at Riley, she’s come to really enjoy the staff and her coworkers in her department, “I really like the staff. Being new is hard sometimes because, you know, people don’t know you, especially at a high school because it’s such a bigger school than middle school, but the English department has been really friendly. I already feel like I know people and I’m comfortable going to people with questions and I just feel really supported by the English department, and everybody’s been really nice.”
Having taken a two-year break from teaching, Mrs. Adams has a refreshed point of view and perspective, even with the crazy start we’ve had. “It’s not getting to me the way it’s getting to some other teachers and I didn’t experience teaching during COVID, so I don’t feel as burned out right now. I know it’s been a rough start to the year, but I was just happy to be back.”
Mrs. Adams is looking to get more involved in the future to help foster more student relationships. “I would like to be more involved in the future. I really value student relationships, so anything to really make those happen would be something I’d be interested in.”
Her current classes are going pretty well, especially thanks to her previous work in middle school. “My classes are going pretty well. Because the freshmen I have, they left school in seventh grade, some of them are very much seventh graders and because I taught seventh grade for years, I feel like I can relate to them.”
Mrs. Adams feels very welcome here at Riley and says seeing familiar faces here has made her transition easier. “I feel very welcomed here. I have seen a lot of students that I taught at Jefferson that are here so I’ve gotten to see them too, which is awesome. That helped me make me feel more welcomed too because I got to see friendly faces from when I taught before.”
Mr. Nicholas Steinhiser
World History & Geography and History of the World
Mr. Steinhiser started teaching World History & Geography and History of the World because of an interest in it as well as the drama weaved into the historical interactions between people and states. He started teaching the class last year at Clay High School and student-taught the year before that. He ended up here at Riley thanks to the PLUS Grant program. He’s here to help and inspire. “I want to help students who are struggling like I did in high school and inspire them.”
One of the things Mr. Steinhiser likes here at Riley, much like our other teachers, is the connectedness. “I like how connected we are here at Riley, this school feels like one big family.” He’s also looking forward to getting involved in the Riley community in the future as well; it’s just a bit too hectic for him this year. “Definitely not this year. This year I am just focusing on adjustment but in the coming years, I would love to be a part of a club or programs like Model UN or GeoBowl.” In spite of the hecticness, his classes have been going well so far. “Classes are going relatively well for how crazy this year has been.”
With the awesome community and great students here, Mr. Steinhiser is feeling pretty welcomed. “Riley has been a very welcoming community. I’m happy to be a part of it!”
Mrs. Jazmine Medina
Earth and Space Science
Jazmine Medina
Mrs. Medina teaches Earth and Space Science and has had an interesting path getting to this position. “I started as a building sub here and quickly became a long-term sub for a teacher who was on maternity leave. This year I am working on a permit that allows me to fully teach a class. Technically, this is my first year teaching officially.” She decided to teach Earth Space and Science because… why not?!!! “I was actually given a few options as to which class I could teach, and I thought that I would have more freedom to have fun with this subject. Who doesn't like learning about volcanoes and space?”
As a substitute teacher, Mrs. Medina chose to be here at Riley. “When you are a substitute teacher, you can pretty much choose any school you would like to work at. It's a very flexible profession. However, my husband was also a building sub here and so he encouraged me to start here. He and I both went here when we were students, so it's a very comfortable place for me to be. “ That familiarity and previous connection to Riley made it an obvious choice for her to come here. “I think that being a former Wildcat, there is some loyalty that I have to this particular school. I grew up in this neighborhood, walked to school every day like many of our students do now, and I remember watching President Obama being inaugurated on TV during school lunch here (I was a freshman!). This school and community holds lots of memories for me, so even when I was a substitute and had the option to choose which school to go to, I would always choose Riley.”
“Riley has changed quite a bit since I was a student here. The students and staff are far more energetic, and there really is a sense of community here.” Mrs. Medina said “For schools this size, it can be hard to find that closeness. I really appreciate that we have that.”
Last year Mrs. Medina was able to help out and chaperone prom and she’s looking forward to more chances to get out in the community and interact with students again. “Absolutely. Last year, I was able to chaperone prom. It was a lot of fun, and it means a lot to me to be able to interact with students on a more informal, fun level.” Right now she has loved seeing their progress in her class. “I adore my students. Overall, I'm very proud of the work they are doing and enjoy watching them succeed. From my perspective, my classes are doing a great job, and I'm excited to see them grow.”
“I feel welcomed here. The science department is amazing, and I'm very lucky to have so many people throughout the entire building giving me guidance and support. Being a teacher is not easy, but being a Riley teacher is very worth it. “
